Semiconductor Manufacturing

A number of technical and operational trends within the semiconductor manufacturing industry are strengthening the need for more effective advanced equipment solutions. These trends include: Development of Smaller Semiconductor Features. The development of smaller features, now as small as 20nm in production and 10nm in R&D, enables semiconductor manufacturers to produce larger numbers of circuits per wafer and to achieve higher circuit performance. Transition to 3D device structures. Foundries are adopting 3D FinFET transistors starting at 14/16 nm technology nodes to get improved performance and use less power in 1x technology nodes. Memory makers will move to 3D NAND and vertical structures for next generation NAND technology. Transition to 3D Integration Technology. Three-dimensional (3D) integration of active devices, directly connecting multiple IC chips, offers many benefits, including power efficiency, performance enhancements, significant product miniaturization, and cost reduction.

Mainland China represents a huge opportunity for semiconductor manufacturers and equipment and materials suppliers. Massive investments in China’s semiconductor industry is paying off as internal production is making inroads on demand. The emerging semiconductor market will exhibit growth far in excess of any other country. This report analyzes Mainland China’s semiconductor and equipment industries, examining the technical, economic, and political issues that are shaping this nascent industry.

The growth of the FPD market with the diffusion of digital home appliances is driving the large-format photomask market and prompting some companies to enter.  In order to remain competitive in such circumstances, companies have been strengthening their technological capabilities and creating higher value-added products, as well as provide products at reasonable cost and with a delivery time that satisfies customer demands. Driving the TFT-LCD photomask market are a generation-shift to bigger glass plates and a design-rule cycle of panel technology that changes every 12 months. In this report, the worldwide markets are analyzed and projected, and market shares of vendors presented.