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TAIPEI – Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the parent of Foxconn Electronics, has acquired a 16% stake in silicon foundry Advanced Microelectronic Products for $4.3 million.
AMP produces a small number – reportedly 30,000 wafers a month – of analog ICs and MOSFETs.
EL SEGUNDO, CA – Amid rapidly deteriorating conditions in the global economy and electronics value chain, iSuppli Corp. now predicts worldwide semiconductor revenue will decline in 2008 compared to 2007.
Global semiconductor revenue now is expected to decrease to $266.6 billion for the full year, down 2% year-over-year. iSuppli's previous forecast in September called for 3.5% growth.
iSuppli’s forecast tracks with an announcement yesterday by World Semiconductor Trade Statistics group, made up of 66 semiconductor manufacturers, that lowered its global sales estimates to a 2.2% drop in 2009, to $256 billion.
“The first evidence the semiconductor industry was entering a recession arrived in the third quarter, before the financial crisis began sweeping the world in October,” said Dale Ford, senior vice president, market intelligence services for iSuppli. “iSuppli previously had predicted the third quarter would generate 7.9% growth in semiconductor revenue compared to the second quarter. However, actual growth in the third quarter came in at a very anemic 2.5% quarter-to-quarter rise. Year-over-year revenue in the third quarter was down by 2.9%.
“Weak-to-strongly-negative growth was reported in the third quarter by the complete range of semiconductor suppliers, large and small, across all markets,” Ford noted.
Memory suppliers are suffering the most severe declines, with the overall market expected to drop 8.8% compared to last year.
Numerous semiconductor suppliers are reducing their fourth-quarter outlooks on an increasingly frequent basis, says iSuppli. This would seem to indicate there is a strong possibility the fourth-quarter decline and the overall 2008 results could fall even further than iSuppli now forecasts.
“In discussions with semiconductor suppliers, equipment OEMs and contract manufacturers, a story of fear and great uncertainty has emerged,” Ford said. “As dramatic declines in consumer and industrial confidence began developing in late summer, order cancellations began to grow and in many cases, slowing orders degenerated into a complete stop in orders as players across the supply chain moved to extremely cautious positions in the face of increasingly negative economic news.
“The psychology of many industry players now has shifted to a survival mentality, with cost-control and cash-conservation considerations driving decisions, according to the firm. The extremely low level of consumer confidence points to a difficult fourth quarter for the industry. The remaining questions are how deep and how long this decline will extend in 2009 and possibly 2010.”
Global semiconductor revenue now is expected to decrease to $266.6 billion for the full year, down 2% year-over-year. iSuppli's previous forecast in September called for 3.5% growth.
iSuppli’s forecast tracks with an announcement yesterday by World Semiconductor Trade Statistics group, made up of 66 semiconductor manufacturers, that lowered its global sales estimates to a 2.2% drop in 2009, to $256 billion.
“The first evidence the semiconductor industry was entering a recession arrived in the third quarter, before the financial crisis began sweeping the world in October,” said Dale Ford, senior vice president, market intelligence services for iSuppli. “iSuppli previously had predicted the third quarter would generate 7.9% growth in semiconductor revenue compared to the second quarter. However, actual growth in the third quarter came in at a very anemic 2.5% quarter-to-quarter rise. Year-over-year revenue in the third quarter was down by 2.9%.
“Weak-to-strongly-negative growth was reported in the third quarter by the complete range of semiconductor suppliers, large and small, across all markets,” Ford noted.
Memory suppliers are suffering the most severe declines, with the overall market expected to drop 8.8% compared to last year.
Numerous semiconductor suppliers are reducing their fourth-quarter outlooks on an increasingly frequent basis, says iSuppli. This would seem to indicate there is a strong possibility the fourth-quarter decline and the overall 2008 results could fall even further than iSuppli now forecasts.
“In discussions with semiconductor suppliers, equipment OEMs and contract manufacturers, a story of fear and great uncertainty has emerged,” Ford said. “As dramatic declines in consumer and industrial confidence began developing in late summer, order cancellations began to grow and in many cases, slowing orders degenerated into a complete stop in orders as players across the supply chain moved to extremely cautious positions in the face of increasingly negative economic news.
“The psychology of many industry players now has shifted to a survival mentality, with cost-control and cash-conservation considerations driving decisions, according to the firm. The extremely low level of consumer confidence points to a difficult fourth quarter for the industry. The remaining questions are how deep and how long this decline will extend in 2009 and possibly 2010.”
YAVNE, ISRAEL -- Orbotech Ltd. today released a statement saying the company is "actively engaged in negotiations" with Fin.Pro S.p.A over the sale of its European and American
assembly AOI business.
Orbotech's chief executive said the company hopes a sale can be reached quickly "to minimize disruption to our existing client base, while providing a clear path for our customers to continue to receive best-in-class solutions and professional service in the future.”
Orbotech's chief executive said the company hopes a sale can be reached quickly "to minimize disruption to our existing client base, while providing a clear path for our customers to continue to receive best-in-class solutions and professional service in the future.”
BREDA, HOLLAND – On Nov. 15, Cobar Europe (Cobar BV) marked its 25th anniversary.
Cobar Europe is part of Cobar Group, which includes Cobar Solder Products Inc. in the US, plus joint ventures and licensed manufacturing partnerships globally.
The Cobar Group is part of Balver Zinn.
Cobar Europe is part of Cobar Group, which includes Cobar Solder Products Inc. in the US, plus joint ventures and licensed manufacturing partnerships globally.
The Cobar Group is part of Balver Zinn.
SIOUX FALLS, SD – Raven Industries Inc. reported third-quarter Electronic Systems division sales of $17.9 million, down 12% year-over-year. Operating income was down 49% to $1.8 million.
However, strong demand for flow controls division products lifted revenues and earnings to new highs for the third quarter and year-to-date ended Oct. 31. Third-quarter sales grew 22% year-over-year to $75.5 million. Net income was $8.4 million, up 13% compared to the same quarter last year.
For the nine months, sales of $220 million represented a 25% improvement over the same period in 2007, while net income expanded 20% to $26.1 million.
For the quarter, sales at the flow controls division expanded 61% from a year ago, to $25.9 million. Year-to-date revenues were up 75%, reaching $83.5 million.
Electronics Systems’ sales for the nine-month period were down 11%, to $45.9 million, and operating income was $3.7 million, down 56% year-over-year.
However, strong demand for flow controls division products lifted revenues and earnings to new highs for the third quarter and year-to-date ended Oct. 31. Third-quarter sales grew 22% year-over-year to $75.5 million. Net income was $8.4 million, up 13% compared to the same quarter last year.
For the nine months, sales of $220 million represented a 25% improvement over the same period in 2007, while net income expanded 20% to $26.1 million.
For the quarter, sales at the flow controls division expanded 61% from a year ago, to $25.9 million. Year-to-date revenues were up 75%, reaching $83.5 million.
Electronics Systems’ sales for the nine-month period were down 11%, to $45.9 million, and operating income was $3.7 million, down 56% year-over-year.
HIALEAH, FL – Simclar Inc. reported sharp revenue drops for its past two quarters, citing the telecommunications infrastructure sector, which accounts for some 60% of the company's business, and production problems in its Mexico facility.
SAN JOSE – Global sales of semiconductors will fall 2.2% in 2009, according to a revised forecast by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics group, citing the overall economy.
MINNEAPOLIS – DfR Solutions, provider of quality, reliability, and durability solutions, has hired Dr. Randy Schueller, an expert in component packaging and Pb-free.
Dr. Schueller will head the firm’s newly established Minneapolis office.
Prior to joining DfR, Dr. Schueller held management and leadership positions in component engineering, Pb-Free transition, and packaging at 3M, Extreme Devices and Dell.
Dr. Schueller will head the firm’s newly established Minneapolis office.
Prior to joining DfR, Dr. Schueller held management and leadership positions in component engineering, Pb-Free transition, and packaging at 3M, Extreme Devices and Dell.
SANTA CLARA, CA – Agilent Technologies is offering a boundary scan online user group on Dec. 15 at 12 p.m. EST.
The online meeting will address boundary scan issues: Are you informed? Are you a user? Should you be? Have an experience to share? Want to hear what other users are talking about?
JJ Grealish, Intel, will discuss boundary scan coming of age; Ted T. Turner, CoGen Marketing Consulting, will address how Desktop BSCAN helps; Ken Parker, Agilent, will talk about how to turn on 1149.6 and what happens next, and Michael Johnson, Asset Intertech, will present a BSDL validation case study.
To register for the two-hour event, visit
EL SEGUNDO, CA – After years of double-digit annual growth, China's 2008 semiconductor sales are expected to rise only 6.7% year-over-year to reach $81.7 billion, iSuppli Corp. predicts.
China’s domestic market situation improved in 2008, despite regulatory restrictions and an incomplete supply chain, says the research firm. Popular applications supporting new domestic standards will appear in 2009 as their industrial ecosystems mature. Although there is substantial economic uncertainty, continued revenue growth is anticipated in 2009, according to iSuppli.
Moreover, venture capitalists generally lack interest in China's IC industry. A majority of semiconductor firms are short of capital and face cash flow problems.
“iSuppli expects more than 100 Chinese IC companies to disappear within the next two years,” warned Vincent Gu, China research analyst at iSuppli. “Many companies presently are seeking buyers, and a total of four companies already have been acquired by foreign semiconductor firms during the past 12 months.”
iSuppli predicts China's fabless IC industry will grow faster than the foundries, but notes it is fragmented, with about 50 successful companies and dozens more struggling to survive.” Most companies have announced layoffs, cut production lines or have shut down entirely,” Gu said.
MANASSAS, VA – Stoelting and Zestron America have completed material compatibility testing for cleaning equipment and products.
Testing was conducted with the CBW Series, Triton inline cleaning equipment, and standalone wash system and liquid lock technology.
Results confirmed compatibility between all wetted parts exposed directly to Vigon and Atron cleaning agents, say the firms.
Testing was conducted with the CBW Series, Triton inline cleaning equipment, and standalone wash system and liquid lock technology.
Results confirmed compatibility between all wetted parts exposed directly to Vigon and Atron cleaning agents, say the firms.
YAVNE, ISRAEL – Orbotech reported a third-quarter net loss of $43.1 million on revenues of $94.8 million. It also announced plans to drop out of the PCB AOI equipment business and reduce its workforce by 15%.
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