 |
|
In This Issue
From the SEMI North America President: Groundhog Day in the Semiconductor Industry
Companies Roar Again: Fab Spending Growth to Reach 117% in 2010
Member Insight:
The Biggest Job Creator You Never Heard Of: The Patent Office
SMIC Beijing 300mm Fab: Expansion Planning
Strong Growth in Q1'10 LED Production Capacity Driven by More MOCVD Tools in Operation
Japan PV Leaders Reach New Records in Profits, Technology
SEMI Hosts Successful 2010 Washington Forum
IEEE/SEMI ASMC Set for July 2010
Hybrid Memory - Altering the Target Market Changes the Value Proposition
Energy Storage Sector Looks to Solid State Solutions
Cutting Costs of Large-Area Devices: A Serious Look at Hybrid Flexible and Printed Technologies
Facing Tough PV Manufacturing Challenges: NA PV Fab Managers Forum
|
|
|
From the SEMI® North America President
 Groundhog Day in
the Semiconductor Industry
Sometimes this industry reminds me of the film, Groundhog Day. In the 1993 comedy, Bill Murray wakes up to the same day over and over again. At first, he finds the repetition torture, but then he reexamines his life and priorities and uses his predicament as a quest for self improvement, actualization and transcendence.
In our industry of cycles and milestones, we are continuingly refining our understanding of important lessons that lead to a stable, sustainable industry. One year after the worst industry downturn on record, the latest chip growth forecasts averaging at about 25 percent are among the highest of all time. In recent days, upgraded fab spending announcements and forecasts have been common occurrences...(more)
Jonathan Davis
www.semi.org
This issue is sponsored by:
Companies Roar Again: Fab Spending Growth to Reach 117% in 2010
By Christian Gregor Dieseldorff, SEMI Industry Research & Statistics
It's no surprise that fab spending will double this year. Back in June 2009, the SEMI World Fab Forecast predicted higher 2010 growth rates than anyone else. The latest report predicts that 2010 fab spending will reach 117% in 2010, but new rumors are surfacing about more capex increases which may push growth even higher.
 The Biggest Job Creator You Never Heard Of: The Patent Office
By Henry R. Nothhaft, CEO, Tessera, Inc.
As the U.S. President and Congress desperately search for ways to regain the 8.4 million jobs lost during the current recession, the greatest opportunity of to spur job growth in our stalled economy may ironically lie right under their noses: in the Patent Office.
SMIC Beijing 300mm Fab: Expansion Planning
By April Peng, SEMI China
According to sources at China's silicon foundry giant SMIC, the company will expand its first 300 mm fab capacity in Beijing from 20,000 wafers per month (wpm) to 45,000 wpm. SMIC also appears ready to announce plans to build a new 300mm fab.
Strong Growth in Q1'10 LED Production Capacity Driven by More MOCVD Tools in Operation
By Barry Young, Contributing Associate, IMS Research
With a 12% increase in the number of MOCVD tools in operation, the first quarter experienced strong growth in LED production capacity. MOCVD tools installed in 100+ LED producers explains the increase in capacity.
Japan PV Leaders Reach New Records in Profits, Technology
New feed-in tariff policies and other policies plus success in many international markets has helped Japan's leading PV companies record profits. The earnings reports reflect a surge in activity by Japan's solar leaders and a renewed, long-term commitment to the global solar market.
SEMI Hosts Successful 2010 Washington Forum
By Jamie Girard, SEMI North America Public Policy
On May 11-12, members of the SEMI North American Advisory Board met in Washington, D.C. for the annual SEMI Washington Forum. They were joined by expert representatives from other SEMI member companies to take part in the two-day event which gives industry leaders a window into the world of policy, as well as bringing important industry needs straight to policy makers, in face-to-face meetings.
IEEE/SEMI Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference Set for July 2010
The Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference (ASMC) has a new venue. Starting with this year's event, ASMC will be held in conjunction with SEMICON West in San Francisco, California.
Hybrid Memory - Altering the Target Market Changes the Value Proposition
By Bob Merritt and Sherry Garber, Convergent Semiconductors
In an industry that has spent billions to offer smaller, faster and cheaper devices based on an industry-wide value proposition that involves doubling the number of transistors per silicon area at a constant rate, the shift toward a consumer-oriented market based on mobile devices is forcing a reassessment of this approach.
Energy Storage Sector Looks to Solid State Solutions
By Paula Doe, SEMI Emerging and Adjacent Markets
While Planar Energy targets large capacity automotive batteries, Infinite Power Solutions and Cymbet are applying solid-state technology to make small batteries that can be integrated with electronics and energy harvesters to back up systems or to run sensors or wireless systems almost indefinitely.
Cutting Costs of Large-Area Devices: A Serious Look at Hybrid Flexible and Printed Technologies
By Paula Doe, SEMI Emerging and Adjacent Markets
Flexible displays, lighting and solar panels may open up new possibilities in consumer products and architectural features, but the real driver of flexible, printed or hybrid electronics technology is manufacturers— who need to reduce production costs of large-area devices.
Facing Tough PV Manufacturing Challenges: Inaugural NA PV Fab Managers Forum
On July 12, leading solar cell makers will convene in San Francisco for the first annual North American Fab Managers Forum at Intersolar North America. The SEMI PV Group event addresses shared supply chain challenges and improving customer-supplier relations.
|
|
|
