BEDFORD, ENGLAND – There was significant motion in the ranking of probe card suppliers in 2001, according to a report from VLSI Research Inc. Jumping from the fourth spot to the top of the list was FormFactor, whose MicroSpring contact technology has found a solid market, especially for highly parallel test of DRAMs. FormFactor's probe card revenue in 2001 was $70.9 million.

Appearing on the list for the first time was Kulicke & Soffa, with the acquisition of Cerprobe and Probe Technology in 2000. K&S was the third biggest supplier or probe cards, with $60.5 million in revenue. Slipping from the top spot to number two was Japan Electronic Materials, and Micronics Japan and Wentworth Laboratories were fourth and fifth on the list.