LYON, FRANCE – The processor market had a remarkable year in 2021, achieving a historic high of US$155.5 billion with a robust growth rate of 22.3%. However, the following year, it experienced a slight downturn, with revenue settling at US$154 billion. The primary factor contributing to this decline was the CPU segment, which was mainly impacted by reduced shipments in the PC category and increased competition from non-x86 APUs.

Conversely, the APU market saw significant growth in 2022, and the data center sector exhibited substantial expansion, leading to a shift in revenue distribution. While the total revenue for processors is expected to reach US$242 billion by 2028, CPUs are expected to maintain their dominant position, GPUs are projected to experience significant growth, and data center is poised to emerge as the fastest-growing market.

In this context, Yole Intelligence releases its Status of the Processor Industry 2023 report. In this report, the company, part of Yole Group, gives a broad overview of the semiconductor processor industry, as well as an in-depth understanding of the market trends, ecosystem, and players and offers critical technical insights and analyses into future technology trends and challenges.

More advanced iterations of processors demand increased integration of circuitry, particularly larger blocks of logic and SRAM. In the past, progress toward denser logic was as straightforward as the next lithography shrink. However, as transistors continue to shrink in size, they have become more intricate and expensive to manufacture. In 2022, the industry is approaching the end of the finFET era, with gate-all-around architectures at 3nm and 2nm on the horizon.

This evolution is led by major players like Intel, TSMC, AMD, NVIDIA, and Samsung. High-performance packaging platforms like Si interposers and hybrid bonding are becoming increasingly pivotal across various applications, reveals Yole Intelligence in this new report.

The processor market is largely dominated by a few key players: Intel, AMD, Nvidia, and Qualcomm, with these giants holding 54% of the total market share.

Competition is growing, with new entrants and tech giants like Amazon and Alibaba entering the CPU arena. Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Apple lead in APUs, with 32% of the market. The SoC FPGA and AI ASIC segments are led by AMD, Intel, and tech giants like Google and Amazon.

The processor startup landscape is dynamic, raising substantial funds, especially in AI-focused endeavors, with China leading the pack. The semiconductor industry in China is evolving, driven by investments and a growing ecosystem. In 2022, notable M&A activities included AMD’s acquisition of Xilinx and Pensando, Intel’s failed attempt to acquire Tower Semiconductor, and Nvidia’s abandoned bid for Arm.

PENANG, MALAYSIA – ViTrox, which aims to be the world’s most trusted technology company, is thrilled to announce that we will be participating in Productronica Germany, at Booth #A2.504, from 14th to 17th November 2023, in International Congress Center München (ICM), Munich, Germany.

This year, we will be showcasing our cutting-edge solutions, ranging from V310i Advanced 3D Solder Paste Inspection (SPI) Solution, V510i Advanced 3D Optical Inspection (AOI) Solution, V810i Advanced 3D X-Ray Inspection (AXI) Solution, V9i Advanced Robotic Vision (ARV) Solution, and of course, our Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Intelligence Solutions - V-ONE.

The V310i 3D SPI is the key to ensuring SMT product quality, providing effortless programming while achieving excellent repeatability and accurate inspection results. Equipped with Ultra Smart Programming, users can instantly start inspection without manual parameter setup, making it user-friendly even for inexperienced operators. The V310i 3D SPI also enables precise solder bump measurement and extended height measurement using shadow-free fringe pattern technology, enhancing the maximum 3D rendering capabilities from 450µm to 1500µm. Another great piece of news to share with you is that our SPIs have successfully qualified for the IPC-CFX-2591 Qualified Products Listing (QPL). Read more about our V310i 3D SPI Solution.

Next in our line-up will be the V510i 3D AOI solution, which is well-implemented with in-depth Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) Smart Technologies. With A.I. Smart Programming, our AOI can reduce human dependency, rapidly improve the programming speed, and guarantee quality, accuracy, and consistency during inspections. Therefore, users will experience up to 4 times the speed of programming time, ultimately achieving a higher yield with lower operating costs. Another significant A.I. technology is the A.I. Assisted Defect Review (A.I. VVTS), designed to automate buy-off processes in repair stations and guarantee you over 90% judgement accuracy. Our V510i 3D AOI has also successfully qualified for the IPC-CFX-2591 Qualified Products Listing (QPL) and has received the mandatory IPC-CFX messages for classification. Read more about our V510i 3D AOI Solution.

The third solution will be our V810i S3 AXI Solution, innovated with an ergonomic design that saves production floor space, while boosting inspection speed by up to 30% with new machine geometry and scanning methods. ViTrox offers a new unique imaging and reconstruction method (H-reconstruction) to address challenging inspections of very heavily shaded components and non-uniformly shaded components. Equipped with A.I. integration, our AXIs have capabilities to detect defects of specific joint types, enhancing inspection accuracy. Plus our 3D AXI Solution has also achieved IPC-CFX-2591 QPL validation. Explore the groundbreaking V810i S3 AXI Solution today.

We will also be showcasing our award-winning V9i ARV Solution, revolutionising flexible inspections for conformal coating and final assembly inspections. Featuring a unique 6-axis COBOT design, it enables adjustable angle inspections up to 90°, guaranteeing convenience. With its Advanced Smart Learning Algorithm, V9i ARV detects various conformal coating defects and checks for screw, cosmetic, connector, and label defects in final assembly without requiring CAD information. Other than that, the solutions provide better traceability in the back- end assembly process compared to human manual inspection. Read more about our V9i ARV Solution’s capabilities in conformal coating inspection and final inspection.

Last but not least, the unveiling of our cutting-edge Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Intelligence Solutions - V-ONE, a Smart Manufacturing necessity in Machine-2-Machine (M2M) production. Among the powerful features housed in our V-ONE will be the A.I. VVTS, ONE View, and our Intelligent Control Tower. The A.I. VVTS tool seamlessly integrates with ViTrox's AOI and AXI systems, achieving over 90% A.I. coverage and high accuracy in defect detection, reducing the need for manual labour in inspections. We have also revolutionised the tracking and analysing of production process data with the latest ViTrox Database Statistical Process Control (VDSPC) 2.0. ONE View connects data from various inspection equipment, enabling real-time cross- referencing for enhanced production process oversight and quality assurance. The Intelligent Control Tower facilitates real-time data analysis across multiple production lines, offering customised production impact assessments to fine-tune critical production issues, ensuring optimised performance. With V-ONE, anyone can monitor the production status anytime, anywhere. Read more about the unique features available in our V-ONE: A.I. VVTS, ONE View, and Intelligent Control Tower.

Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to meet and connect with us at Productronica Germany 2023! Our experts from ViTrox will be there to answer all your questions and ensure you have an incredible experience at our booth. Simply click the registration link to choose your preferred appointment time and meet our field experts in person. We hope to see you soon!

PHOENIX, AZ – Grand Canyon University has partnered with manufacturing companies Benchmark Electronics, Modern Industries and Lux Precision Manufacturing to create the CNC Machinist Pathway that will prepare students to learn computer numerical control (CNC), a high demand trade that uses computers to precision manufacture parts. Manufacturing jobs are growing, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating a 7% national growth rate for machinists through 2030.

“GCU’s Center for Workforce Development is part of our broader job-focused curriculum to create a skilled and caring labor workforce,” said Grand Canyon University President Brian Mueller. “The trade industry is crucial to the local economy and by offering students creative pathways like this, GCU is meeting the critical need of industry demands. The financial support from company partners like Benchmark Electronics who are helping fund this new trade program model are making a difference starting in our own backyard.”

The CNC Machinist Pathway is a 15-week program that exists alongside the university’s growing baccalaureate engineering and business programs. CNC students will take four evening courses in areas like math, communications and CNC manufacturing. In addition to coursework, participants will work as paid interns at Lux Precision Manufacturing, based at GCU’s 27th Avenue and Camelback campus in Canyon Ventures. Students will receive real work experience manufacturing parts for medical, aerospace and semiconductor industries. Lux Precision Manufacturing is also hiring GCU’s engineering students to learn the manufacturing process as well with hands-on experience.

“We have the opportunity to make an impact on the current state of manufacturing in Arizona and help grow the overall dependency for manufacturing in the U.S.,” said Lux Precision Manufacturing founder and GCU graduate Weston Smith. “Students will have on-the-job training with a solid basis for understanding manufacturing principles and be able to apply this skill immediately into the workforce.”

Funding from Benchmark will go toward curriculum development and scholarships for students. Benchmark, a leader in the manufacturing industry that serves medical, electronics, defense and numerous other industries, has also committed to hiring students each semester who have completed the program.

“Arizona’s innovation economy is on the rise and GCU is significantly contributing to the need for outstanding, homegrown talent in the region,” said Nell Hall, Benchmark’s Global VP of Talent Attraction and Inclusion. “We’re honored to partner with GCU to help students achieve their educational goals and develop the next generation of machinists by providing scholarship funding and access to Benchmark’s expertise. We look forward to what the future will hold through this partnership.”

Recognized as a world class manufacturer in precision machining, Modern Industries Inc., is also partnering with the university to hire GCU students who have completed the pathway, allowing them to gain access to cutting-edge manufacturing facilities and invaluable hands-on experience.

“Our collaboration with GCU will help forge a path to excellence in manufacturing education and innovation, bridging the gap between academia and industry,” said David Seehausen of Modern Industries. “This partnership signifies a commitment to shaping the future of CNC machining, one where knowledge meets practicality, and where innovation flourishes.”

This is the university’s second pathway involving trade occupations, following its Pre-Apprenticeship for Electricians pathway that started in fall 2022 and has produced 74 participants who have become apprentices in the electrician trade. Another 220 students are expected in the program for the upcoming academic year.

The CNC Machinist Pathway is ideal for anyone who is looking to re-career or needs an entry into a four-year college engineering program. Read about current applicants and their experience here. Participants are part of the GCU community and are able to join campus events, dining and the university’s vibrant college atmosphere. For more information, email cnc@gcu.edu 

WATERBURY, CT – MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions, a manufacturer of chemical compounds used in surface coating applications, announced it will open a second facility in Japan in order to better serve the needs of the local automotive industry. The laboratory will be located in Nagoya and provide technical services to the region's Tier 1s, Tier 2s and other companies vital to the automotive ecosystem.

MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions, which operates in Japan as the MacDermid Performance Solutions Japan K.K. legal entity, currently provides technical services to Nagoya-based customers from the Hiratsuka location in Kanagawa Prefecture. The laboratory in Nagoya will reduce the time required for existing customers to make important decisions about their plating bath parameters, many of which operate 24 hours a day. The additional location in Japan will also satisfy the business continuity planning requirements of every automotive OEM.

"We are very excited to have a presence in Nagoya, where we have already been supplying customers with specialty chemicals for more than 40 years. This strategic investment underscores our long-term commitment to Japan, a country which recognizes the value of our environmentally-friendly products. We also expect the gained trust to result in new business opportunities," said Richard Lynch, Senior Global Vice President of MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions.

Julian Bashore, Representative Director of MacDermid Performance Solutions Japan K.K., added, "After the soft opening on October 1st, we will be fully equipped by April 2024. The growth in our automotive business has allowed us to make such an expansion in Japan. With Japan's focus on sustainability, we are excited to expand our offerings in the electric vehicle market. This investment in Aichi Prefecture positions us for further market penetration with Japan-based manufacturers of brake calipers, door handles, emblems, fasteners and other components."