News Article
Race tightens for photomask makers
A new report from The Information Network suggests that Toppan should be looking over their shoulder as rival photomask suppliers catch up.
The semiconductor photomask market extended its losing streak by dropping 12% in 2008 after a 2% drop in 2007, according to a new report published by The Information Network.
“The merchant semiconductor photomask market dropped 12% in 2008 to sales of $1.8 billion. The market will drop another 11% in 2009, with the high-end photomask market (less than 90 nanometres) dropping 18% while the low-end market will be flat,” according to Dr. Robert Castellano, President of The Information Network. “We see new field programmable gate array (FPGA) product designs as a core driver of photomask industry growth in this challenging market environment.”
For 2008, state-of-the-art production of 45 nanometre masks for semiconductor masks ramped up production and 65 nanometre masks moved into volume production. A 65 nanometre mask set is comprised of 40 photomasks, five of which are critical (45 nm design rule) and 15 subcritical (90 nm design rule). A 65 nanometre mask set can 1.8 times that of a 90 nanometre set, while a 45 nanometre mask set can cost 2.2 times that of a 65 nanometre set.
In 2008, Toppan led the worldwide merchant market with a 35% share down from a 39% share in 2007. DNP followed with a 34% share, up from a 32% share in 2007. U.S.-based Photronics gained 1 share point.
“Once this economic downturn is over and mergers and acquisitions in the industry resume, we will witness further consolidation in the mask market with the acquisition of Photronics, leaving Compugraphics, a subsidiary of OM Group, as the only U.S.-based photomask supplier,” added Dr. Castellano.
“The merchant semiconductor photomask market dropped 12% in 2008 to sales of $1.8 billion. The market will drop another 11% in 2009, with the high-end photomask market (less than 90 nanometres) dropping 18% while the low-end market will be flat,” according to Dr. Robert Castellano, President of The Information Network. “We see new field programmable gate array (FPGA) product designs as a core driver of photomask industry growth in this challenging market environment.”
For 2008, state-of-the-art production of 45 nanometre masks for semiconductor masks ramped up production and 65 nanometre masks moved into volume production. A 65 nanometre mask set is comprised of 40 photomasks, five of which are critical (45 nm design rule) and 15 subcritical (90 nm design rule). A 65 nanometre mask set can 1.8 times that of a 90 nanometre set, while a 45 nanometre mask set can cost 2.2 times that of a 65 nanometre set.
In 2008, Toppan led the worldwide merchant market with a 35% share down from a 39% share in 2007. DNP followed with a 34% share, up from a 32% share in 2007. U.S.-based Photronics gained 1 share point.
“Once this economic downturn is over and mergers and acquisitions in the industry resume, we will witness further consolidation in the mask market with the acquisition of Photronics, leaving Compugraphics, a subsidiary of OM Group, as the only U.S.-based photomask supplier,” added Dr. Castellano.
