Semicon West 2012

Ken Cavallaro, Business Manager, Semiconductor Packaging News

Most companies we spoke to said business is okay, but concerned with a cloudy global economic picture. Companies with unique niches based on a technology solution have fared the best so far this year. Even though high volume production remains in Asia, the European crisis is a concern for the industry as consumer electronic growth is the fuel for increases in semiconductor volume.

We have an interesting discussion scheduled for Thursday with Luc Van Den Hove, from Imec on the advancements in advanced packaging technology and the development of 450mm wafer. The Flemish government will invest in Imec's $100 million euro 450mm clean room infrastructure projected to open in 2015. The 450mm clean room will enable Imec to support its partners with cutting-edge research on (sub)-10nm devices that will play a vital role in future ICT, healthcare and energy solutions. The transition to 450mm is essential for the advancement of powerful and cheap ICs. Imec also collaborated with world-leading equipment suppliers, such as KLA-Tencor, to install 450mm tools on-site to fuel R&D.

As the electronics industry continues to develop new products for global consumers, automotive technology and medical applications, this demand will lead to more components and significant increases in memory. Even as the news of the week has been slowing equipment demand, unit increases will continue with demand for improving yields.