Good and flat revenue for test and measurement

Article Abstract:

Revenue for the test and measurement market is expected to be flat in 1997 and that is good news for the companies reeling from a generally weak 1996. The second half of 1997 will be stronger than the first half, according to insiders, and the year will end with sales resembling that of 1995, which was strong. Market performance will largely depend on the speed by which semiconductor manufacturers can come out with 64-Mb DRAMs, the next generation product that will need new test equipment. The biggest influence on test and measurement equipment sales is the continuing slowdown in the construction of semiconductor wafer fabs. This and the growing impact of software on test will determine the market's growth. Design for test (DFT) technology is becoming more popular because of semiconductors' increasing complexity and the trend toward using a single silicon chip for each system. DFT does not require as many testers but test equipment firms have to work closely with design simulation tools to be able to offer users tools ease programming.

Electronic test device, Electronic test equipment, Statistics, Semiconductor production equipment industry, Semiconductor production equipment, Testing equipment, 1997 AD

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It's one good year right after another

Article Abstract:

Sales of automatic test equipment to the semiconductor industry will increase in 1996, while sales of board test equipment will grow moderately. The test and measurement equipment market segment will grow at 6.8% in 1996. The principal factor spurring the growth is the expansion of many wafer fabrication plants. However, manufacturers of test equipment face increasing pressure from the semiconductor industry to reduce prices. These pressures are related to the semiconductor industry's support of the PC industry, which is a consumer driven industry where cost and economics have become very important. Despite customers' requests for lower prices, manufacturers of semiconductor test equipment will benefit from higher equipment demand and from higher prices per equipment related to the complexity of the technology tested. The cost of equipment will rise because it usually depends on the number of pins in the circuit to be tested, and the number of pins is increasing rapidly. Typically, prices are between $2,000 and $3,000 per pin.

Instrument industry (Equipment), Testing and measuring equipment industry

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Strong economies power semiconductor comeback

Article Abstract:

Overall the semiconductor industry is being helped by strong or growing economic conditions in major semiconductor-consuming countries. Worldwide growth in semiconductor revenue will be 4.6% to $138 billion for 1997, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). In 1996, revenue fell 11%. Market researchers Dataquest and In-Stat also anticipate worldwide sales growth for 1997, with Dataquest seeing sales growth to $142 billion, and In-Stat projecting expansion of 6%. Japan's NEC Corp. has even loftier projections for its own operations, predicting semiconductor revenue growth of 18% for 1997 due to an improved market outlook. For the first half of 1997, the US economy has been on a better-than-average growth rate. Japan's strong growth for 1997 has been a surprise considering recent government increases in taxes. On the European front, the UK, Germany, and France have seen their economies improve, although rates of unemployment remain high.

Semiconductors and related devices, Semiconductor Devices, Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing

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