The use of 300mm wafers continues to rise, showing positive signs for the overall semiconductor industry, according to the July edition of World Fab Watch, a quarterly fab database from Strategic Marketing Associates (SMA).

The researcher reports the semiconductor industry saw five additional advanced technology fabs begin operation since January, bringing the total number of 300mm fabs to 22. Additionally, there are eight more 300mm fabs gearing up to come online before year-end. According to SMA, this could be a sign the semiconductor equipment industry will soon see some rain interrupting its long running drought.

"Even though the effects of the industry's deepest downturn still linger, signs of a recovery are becoming increasingly apparent," said George Burns, SMA's president, in a statement. "The increase in 300mm fab activity is definitely helping this recovery. As these new fabs ramp, they will buy equipment and we predict, push up capital spending for the first time since 2000."

SMA also noted in its report that Japanese companies, which lost both competitiveness and market share in the last decade, will loosen their fab purse strings as they begin to reorganize.

"The Japanese companies were badly bruised in the 90s but have reorganized and are coming back. Many fabs have closed, consolidated or transferred to new owners," Burns said, citing Renesas, the joint venture of Mitsubishi and Hitachi that now has 23 lines formerly operated by its parents.

Renesas, he said, is the 10th largest chip company in the world in terms of capacity. Meanwhile, Hitachi and Mitsubishi collectively have 19 fewer fabs since the April merger. With the re-organization almost complete, Japanese chipmakers are increasing their spending on new fab gear, which will be another boost to equipment makers, SMA said.

By: DocMemory
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