Survey respondents anticipate the industry to sell $36.2 billion of new chip manufacturing, testing and assembly equipment in 2004. The forecast indicates that, as the semiconductor upturn is sustained, the equipment market will grow 24 percent in 2005 to reach $44.8 billion. Respondents also see the cyclic market growth contracting slightly in 2006 before resuming low double-digit growth in 2007 to reach $48 billion. The market for equipment to test semiconductors is predicted to increase 66 percent to reach $6.9 billion this year.
(July 14, 2004) San Francisco, Calif.—SEMI, an international association for companies in the microelectronics and display industries, announced yesterday the appointment of Tetsuro (Terry) Higashi as its new chairman of the board of directors. The results of the association’s annual elections were released at the SEMICON West 2004 exposition in San Francisco.