Global Business Practices How Well Do You Know Your Customers?

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Global Business Practices How Well Do You Know Your Customers? 01 Front Cover FINAL.qxp 22/2/12 15:30 Page 1 Global business practices How well do you know your customers? An Angel Business Communications publication Choosing the right photomask The rising cost of 450mm Market needs Solutions for 3D Integration and TSV Field-proven, ultra-thin wafer handling solution ˛ up to 300 mm Integrity-assured bonding and de-bonding of high-topography wafers Flexible options ˛ glass or silicon carriers, immediate carrier re-use Adhesive stability at high temperatures and defect-free removal ˛ no additional cleaning tool required 03 Comment Final.qxp 22/2/12 16:24 Page 3 editor’s word Editor-in-Chief David Ridsdale +44 (0)1923 690210 [email protected] Director of SOLAR & IC Publishing Dynamic changes Jackie Cannon +44 (0)1923 690205 [email protected] The semiconductor industry dynamics continue to change and not Account Manager Shehzad Munshi always in the most expected way. In fact viewing the industry as a +44 (0)1923 690215 [email protected] monolithic concern is becoming less relevant as new opportunites arise Sales Executive ensuring more markets allowing for success or failure in a sub-market Martin Jennings +44 (0)1923 690222 [email protected] completely independent of the global movement. Director of Logistics Sharon Cowley These changes make is extrememly difficult for investors and financial +44 (0)1923 690200 [email protected] Issue I 2012 watchers who like to rely on safe over arching figures that direct their Design & Production Manager Mitchell Gaynor aspirations and goals for the foreseeable future. In reality overall +44 (0)1923 690214 [email protected] industry figures tell you very little about the dynamics and more about Subscriptions Manager potential share price reactions. The financial community, many of whom Debbie Higham have trouble seeing beyond a global picture, have difficulty drilling +44 (0)1923 690220 [email protected] down to the individual growing opportunities for the industry. A quick USA Representatives: Tom Brun, Tom Brun Media, look at financials reveals one example where the differences for DRAM T: 724 539-2404, E: [email protected] manufacturers as opposed to the overall industry provides a different Janice Jenkins, Tom Brun Media. T: 724 929-3550, E: [email protected] financial picture. Japan Representative: Katsuhiro Ishii, ACE MEDIA SERVICE INC., www.euroasiasemiconductor.com T: 81-3-5691-3335, E: [email protected] These dynamics affect everyone, including yours truly and the time has China Representative: 3 Parker XU, Unionbandy Limited, come for EuroAsia Semiconductor to once again respond to the market T: 86-755-83753881, E: [email protected] change as it has successfully done for over thirty years. The last time I Directors: changed the magazine was in response to the reduction of European Bill Dunlop Uprichard – CEO Stephen Whitehurst – COO manufacturing efforts and the growth of Asian manufacturing. Now the Jan Smoothy – CFO Jackie Cannon, Scott Adams, industry has bcome more global and although the core industry may be Sharon Cowley, Sukhi Bhadal smaller than it once once, the growth in opportunities is a continual Published by expansion allowing all companies along the value chain to consolidate Angel Business Communications Ltd Hannay House, 39 Clarendon Road, Watford, Herts WD17 1JA, UK their positions or develop entirely new markets created by the T: +44 (0)1923 690200 innovation the industry has always fostered. F: +44 (0)1923 690201 E: [email protected] Of course not all industry challenging events occur due to market Angel Business Communications Ltd Unit 6, Bow Court, Fletchworth Gate, forces as we were all reminded with the sudden passing of Micron Burnsall Road, Coventry CV5 6SP T: +44 (0)2476 718 970 CEO, Steve Appleton. His style and approach was not to everyone’s F: +44 (0)2476 718 971 liking but there is no doubt his aggressive approach ensured the USA E: [email protected] maintained some manufacturing outside of Intel and IBM and his EuroAsia Semiconductor is published four times a year tenacious attitude to competition ensured that the memory market was on a controlled circulation basis. Non-qualifying individuals can subscribe at: never controlled by a monopoly of one (or two) companies. His passing £105.00/€158 pa (UK & Europe), £138.00 pa (air mail), $198 pa (USA). Cover price £4.50. has left a hole in the industry and will impact the memory market All information herein is believed to be correct at time of going to press. The publisher does not accept drastically unless the USA finds another strong individual not afraid to responsibility for any errors and omissions. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those take the fight to the competition. of the publisher. Every effort has been made to obtain copyright permission for the material contained in this publication. Angel Business Communications Ltd I hope everyone is looking forward to the changes as much as we are will be happy to acknowledge any copyright oversights in a subsequent issue of the publication. Angel Business and although we say goodbye to this particular name, the new look will Communications Ltd © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced in whole or carry the title through for another thirty years and counting. part without the written consent of the publishers. The paper used within this magazine is produced by chain of custody certified manufacturers, guaranteeing sustainable sourcing. David Ridsdale Printed by: Pensord Press. Editor-in-Chief ISSN 1751-1135(Print) ISSN 2041-1383(Online) Lesker Valves Featured Rectangular Valve Issues? KJLC Rectangular Gate Valves are the solution. No spring actuation means low-particulate generation! www.lesker.com 12-023 InstrumentalPLASMA in change Leading plasma process innovation Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology is turning smart science into world class products with its flexible systems for precise and repeatable etching, deposition and growth of micro and nano structures Plasma Etch & Deposition Atomic Layer Deposition Ion Beam Etch & Deposition Nanoscale Growth Systems Hydride Vapour Phase Epitaxy For more information, please contact Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology: Tel: +44 (0)1934 837 000 Email: [email protected] www.oxford-instruments.com/plasma Display Template.indd 40 22/02/2012 16:07 05 Contents Final.qxp 22/2/12 16:25 Page 5 Contents contents Cover Story INSIDE EUROASIA 16 Global business practices 03 Comment Issue I 2012 07 News review 12 Market needs 16 Global business practices 20 Choosing the right photomask 24 The rising cost of 450mm www.euroasiasemiconductor.com 5 20 Lithography 12 15 24 30 Printed Electronics EUROPE2012 PRINTED ELECTRONICS APPLICATIONS. 3 – 4 APRIL 2012 / BERLIN, GERMANY. This event uniquely features organisations discussing their needs and experiences with printed electronics. 25% ATTENDEE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT Quote: ABC25 WORLD’S LEADING USERS PRESENTING: and many more www.PrintedElectronicsEurope.com Untitled-2 1 22/02/2012 15:52 07 News & STATS Final.qxp 22/2/12 16:31 Page 7 Financial News Record breaking 2011 THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (SIA) announced that worldwide semiconductor sales for 2011 reached a record $299.5 billion, a year- on-year increase of 0.4 percent from the $298.3 billion recorded in 2010. Worldwide semiconductor sales in December amounted to $23.8 billion, a decrease of 5.5 percent from the month Issue I 2012 prior. Fourth quarter sales of $71.5 billion represent a 7.7 percent decline from the immediate prior quarter, and a 5.3 percent decrease over the same period in 2010. “Between the natural disasters in Japan and Thailand and the overall Sensors and actuators, currently the devices that need processing impact of a weak global economy, 2011 smallest semiconductor market segment capabilities also experienced year-over- presented a number of challenges for showed the highest year over year year growth, with an increase of 7.5 the semiconductor industry. Despite growth at 15.5% to $8.0B in 2011. percent in revenue to $65.2B making it these setbacks the industry showed Sensor technology which can be used the second largest semiconductor www.euroasiasemiconductor.com resiliency and posted year-on-year to convert temperature, pressure or market segment for 2011, behind Logic. growth with record-breaking revenues acceleration into electrical signals is Strong demand in the enterprise 7 for 2011,” said Brian Toohey, president, growing as an application in consumer computing segment drove Semiconductor Industry Association. electronics, medical devices and microprocessor sales. In 2011 the industry saw strong automotive systems to improve safety In 2012 the industry is expected to demand in several areas; specifically the and efficiency. An area of continued experience recovery due to demand optoelectronic, sensor and actuator, growth for sensors is in the application across a broad range of end market and microprocessor markets showed of MEMS, or microelectromechanical segments combined with the delayed solid year over year growth. Lamps and systems which are increasingly included sales impact from the supply chain image sensors drove growth in the in smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, disruptions in the second half of 2011. optoelectronic market to $23.1B, a and numerous other consumer Several large semiconductor companies 6.4% increase. Optoelectronic electronic products. announced plans for new facilities and applications bring energy efficiency and MOS Microprocessors, part of the new R&D projects that will serve to fuel low cost in a wide range of products integrated circuit category, which are the industry’s long-term growth including mobile devices and cameras. predominantly used in PCs and other expectations. Soitec acquisition completion SOITEC announced the successful buy-back program approved by the tracker system manufacturing ramp up. completion of its acquisition of all of shareholders during the combined Altatech Semiconductor was a the outstanding shares composing the ordinary and extraordinary meetings privately held French company located capital of Altatech Semiconductor S.A., held on June 24, 2011.
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