The Week In Review: June 22
By Mark LaPedus
Applied Materials announced the appointment of Gary Dickerson as president. He was recently the chief executive of Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, which Applied Materials acquired in 2011. In his new role, Dickerson will report to Mike Splinter, chairman and chief executive, and will be responsible for the day-to-day operation for the company’s four business units.
Applied also released the results of its fourth annual solar energy survey. The survey found consumers are optimistic about the future of solar power.
Soitec has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to receive a $25 million award to support its new North American solar manufacturing facility in San Diego.
Forecasts for 2012 semiconductor market growth are for slow growth. The forecast at Semiconductor Intelligence is for 2% growth. North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment a book-to-bill ratio of 1.05, according to SEMI.
Worldwide wafer fab equipment (WFE) spending is on pace to total $33 billion in 2012, a decline of 8.9 percent from 2011 spending of $36.2 billion, according to Gartner Inc. Gartner said the market will return to growth in 2013 with WFE spending projected to surpass $35.4 billion, a 7.4 percent increase from 2012.
Samsung and Apple captured 55% of global smartphone shipments in Q1 and more than 90% of the market’s profits, according to ABI Research. Sony is increasing its CMOS image sensor production.
Micron Technology posted another loss in Q3. C.J. Muse, an analyst with Barclays Capital, said: “Clearly, the results for the May quarter as well as the August quarter guidance were worse than our consensus expectations coming in and it now seems likely that the trough is being pushed out by one more quarter to August. But with that said, management did convey continued optimism around a 2H recovery in memory.”
Cypress Semiconductor has commenced a hostile takeover effort to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Ramtron International for $2.68 per share.
Separately, ESI, a supplier of laser-based equipment, has acquired EOLITE Systems, a designer and manufacturer of fiber lasers.
Rudolph Technologies has acquired the assets of of an inspection firm. The addition of NanoPhotonics’ inspection technology and its substantial intellectual property portfolio will strengthen Rudolph’s established presence in packaging. .
Tags: ABI Research, Apple, Applied Materials, Cypress Semiconductor, DOE, EOLITE Systems, ESI, fiber lasers, Micron Technology, Ramtron International, Samsung, Semiconductor Intelligence, semiconductor market, Soitec, solar energy, U.S. Department of Energy