News Article
300mm fuels fab automation
Semiconductor fab automation tools revenues is expected to grow 50% through 2008 benefiting from the migration to 300mm equipment, according to a new reportfrom the Information Network.
The new reportis entitled Semiconductor Factory Automation: Technology Issues And Market Forecasts. "The market for Automated Material Handling Systems (AMHS) or interbay and intrabay equipment is extremely volatile," notes Dr. Robert N. Castellano, President of The Information Network. "The sector decreased only 4% in 2001 while the entire semiconductor industry plummeted. In 2003 there was another drop of 19% while the front-end equipment market increased 4.2%. The sector grew 70.2% in 2004 to and 24.6% in 2005 to $635 million. We project the sector to reach $1 billion in 2008." Asyst Technologies led the market in AMHS system sales in 2005 with a 43% share, followed by Daifuku with a 32% share. The Robotic Sector grew 83.5% in 2004 but dropped 7.2% in 2005 to $619 million. We project the Robotics Sector to reach $975 million in 2008. The merchant Robotics Sector reached dropped 11.1% 2005 to $540 million. Brooks Automation led the market in 2005 in both the Atmospheric and Vacuum Robotics sector with a 49% share, followed by Asyst Technologies with a 19% share.
