The European Union has created a Pb-free initiative that will ban lead in electrical and electronic applications as of July 1, 2006.
(August 26, 2004) San Jose, Calif.—According to a quarterly analysis conducted by SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG), worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased by 6 percent in the second quarter of 2004, and by 27 percent from the second quarter in 2003. Total silicon wafer area shipments were 1,619 million square inches during the most recent quarter, up from 1,529 million square inches in shipments reported during the previous quarter.