Press Releases

June 25, 2009 — Despite Downturn, Photoresists Still Expected to see Strong Growth

May 14, 2009 — Rapid Growth Projected for Chemicals and Materials in Solar Cells and Modules

January 14, 2008 — CMP Consumables Market Tops a Record $1.2 Billion in 2007

May 14, 2007 — Advanced Patterning Materials For Semiconductors: Forecast To Exceed $1.5 Billion In 2007

April 21, 2006 — CMP Consumables Market Tops a Record $1.1 Billion in 2005

Electronic Materials Reports

January 28, 2010 — New Industry Realities Lead to New Opportunities

November 12, 2009 — Growth in Memory Affects Wafer Starts

October 8, 2009 — CMP Research Service

June 23, 2009 — Patterning Material Forecast

April 27, 2009 — Advanced Thin Films for FEOL and BEOL Applications

February 20, 2009 — Advanced Patterning 2008 - 2013

February 3, 2009 — PV News Flash

January 28, 2009 — Emerging Opportunities for Electronic Chemicals & Material Suppliers

December 18, 2008 — Advanced Semiconductor Process Flow Service

November 24, 2008 — Strategic Materials Conference

October 6, 2008 — Premiere Issue

The PV Newsletter

February 16, 2010 — Solar Demand Analysis

October 7, 2009 — Chemicals & Materials in Solar Cells & Modules

September 10, 2009 — Investing in Solar Stocks

May 6, 2009 —  PV InterSolar

March 13, 2009 — Introducing The PV Newsletter

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Despite Downturn, Photoresists Still Expected to Show Strong Growth

BOSTON, Mass., June 25, 2009 – According to a report released earlier this year by Linx Consulting, the leading international electronic materials consulting firm, 193nm photoresist represents the largest growth opportunity in the advanced patterning market. The report forecasts the market for 193nm photoresist will grow at a CAGR of 27% over the next 5 years.

The report, entitled Advanced Patterning, 2008 – 2013, examines the global markets for advanced photoresists and photoresist ancillaries, including both spin-on materials as well as vacuum-deposited materials.    

The report also quantifies overall supplier shares as well as shares of specific photoresists and ancillary products. Photoresist supplier shares for all products in 2008 are illustrated below:

JSR, TOK and Shin Etsu control 78% of the 193nm photoresist market. These participants are predicted to continue to enhance their strong position in this segment. 

To keep suppliers up-to-date on the most recent developments in this market, Linx Consulting has launched a new service entitled Patterning Materials Forecasting and Market Share Service. The new service offers forecasts on the market growth of each segment along with market shares in an independent view of the market.

The Patterning Materials Forecasting and Market Share Service is a semi-annual service that provides a market forecast of Novolak and chemically-amplified resists for all common wavelengths and immersion lithography. Additionally, the service includes forecasts on patterning ancillaries such as ARCs, TARCs, top coats, immersion materials, and multi-level patterning materials. All forecasts include a segmentation of regions and major device types.

Linx Consulting is a leading international consulting firm serving the electronics industry.  Advanced Patterning, 2008 – 2013 and Patterning Materials Forecasting and Market Share Service are the latest in a series of reports designed to assist suppliers of electronic chemicals and materials as well as other value chain participants to better participate in the global electronics industry.  More information about these reports can be found at www.linx-consulting.com or by e-mail at info@linx-consulting.com.

Rapid Growth Projected for Chemicals and Materials in Solar Cells and Modules

BOSTON, Mass., May 14, 2009 — The market for advanced chemicals and materials used in PV solar cells and modules will decline in 2009 to $2.3 billion before resuming strong growth to approximately $15 billion by 2015, according to a new industry analysis report from Linx-AEI Consulting, a leading international consulting firm serving the photovoltaics and electronics industries.

The new report entitled Chemicals & Materials for Photovoltaic Cells and Modules, 2009, examines emerging materials requirements in solar cell and module production, and quantifies the global markets for these advanced chemicals and materials as follows:

PV Cell and Module Chemical and Material Demand
US$ millions

According to the new report, the driver of growth in the PV market will be the global end market demand for solar power, which is expected to grow from 5.7 GW to 36 GW over the same time period.

Combining unique perspectives on the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) as a function of module performance with geography-specific considerations such as local incentives and irradiance, Linx-AEI has developed long-term forecasts by cell type.  As a result, this report includes detailed perspectives and insights into chemicals needs for individual cell and module types for crystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, tandem-junction, CdTe and CI(G)S cells and modules. 

Chemicals & Materials for Photovoltaic Cells and Modules, 2009, outlines market opportunities available to chemicals and materials suppliers as a result of strong volume growth in addition to technology-driven opportunities to deliver progress towards lower cost.  However, Mark Thirsk of Linx-AEI cautions, “This industry is still driven by the need to achieve grid parity and its evolution is still strongly impacted by policy.  Therefore, there is a critical need for all value chain participants to continually monitor and understand LCOE, technology development, existing investment and changes in policy.  This need has been clearly illustrated with the current turmoil in the supply of polysilicon.”

Linx-AEI Consulting is a leading international consulting firm serving the photovoltaics industry. The firm develops industry reports on chemicals and materials, processing technology, cell and module producers and grid parity analyses, including unique financial perspectives on the health of the industry.

To obtain more information about this report contact Mike Corbett at mcorbett@linx-consulting.com telephone +1 973.437.4517 or Mark Thirsk at mthirsk@linx-consulting.com, telephone +1 617.273.8837. More information about Linx-AEI Consulting can be found at www.linx-consulting.com.

CMP Consumables Market Tops A Record $1.2 Billion in 2007 

Boston, MA, January 14, 2008 – Continued growth in CMP operations has driven the global market for slurries and pads market to a record $1.2 billion in 2007 according to a recently completed industry analysis report from Linx Consulting. 

These projections are based on findings from CMP Technologies and Markets to the 32nm Node report issued this year by Linx Consulting.  “Projecting forward, we see the market for slurries and pads utilized in CMP reaching $1.7 billion in 2011,” according to Mark Thirsk, Managing Partner at Linx Consulting.  Thirsk sees the strong growth driven by memory applications.  “Increasingly both DRAM and Flash will account for a higher proportion of wafer starts as the industry progresses from 90 nm to 32 nm technology nodes.  This coupled with the simultaneous conversion to copper of both DRAM and Flash will help to continue to drive CMP growth.

Overall Linx Consulting sees memory accounting for about 20% of the total CMP operations in 2007 and increasing to about one-third of all CMP operations in 2011.  At the same, DRAM and Flash will increasingly convert to copper interconnect in high volume manufacturing (HVM) for advanced nodes.  “Today, Micron is the leading DRAM supplier with copper in HVM.  Over the next year, we expect to see both Samsung and Hynix ramp copper for 55 nm half pitch devices.”  After, this, other leading DRAM producers including Qimonda, Elpida, Nanya and Inotera will convert to copper HVM.  In addition, a significant portion of Flash will integrate some copper in HVM over the same period. 

Over the next few years, growth will be underpinned by the semiconductor production at the 90 nm node and below.  “In 2008, about one-half of all CMP operations will be for devices produced at design rules of 90 nm and below,” notes Mike Corbett, Managing Partner at Linx Consulting.  “By 2011, almost 70% of all CMP operations will be done on devices at 90 nm and below.” 

“Consumable suppliers who have had product success with 90 and 65 nm processes will continue to realize strong revenues throughout the forecast period,” according to Corbett.  “In addition, suppliers who are winning at 45 nm today will start to show strong revenue benefits in 2009/10 timeframe.”  Rohm and Haas remains the leading supplier of CMP consumables, with an estimated 44% market share, followed by Cabot Microelectronics.

As part of this report, Linx Consulting also provides forecasts for CMP operations by devices type and process applications, detailed perspectives on CMP operations for 65, 45 and 32 nm process technologies, the impact of emerging technologies, and analysis of supplier positioning.  Extracts of these forecasts will be discussed this week at the SEMI Strategic Materials Conference in Half Moon Bay, CA.

Linx Consulting is a leading international consulting firm serving the electronics industry. CMP Technologies and Markets to the 32nm Node is the latest in a series of reports designed to assist suppliers of electronic chemicals and materials as well as other value chain participants to better participate in the global electronics industry.  To obtain more information about this report or to review how Linx Consulting can assist with other needs please contact Mike Corbett at mcorbett@linx-consulting.com telephone +1 973.437.4517 or Mark Thirsk at mthirsk@linx-consulting.com, telephone +1 617 273 8837.

Advanced Patterning Materials For Semiconductors: Forecast To Exceed $1.5 Billion In 2007

Boston, Mass., May 14, 2007 – Increased complexity in patterning advanced semiconductors will drive the market for spin-on patterning materials to over $1.5 billion in 2007 and over $2 billion in 2011 according to a recently completed industry analysis report from Linx Consulting.  The report establishes that the global market for advanced patterning materials was $1.4 billion in 2006.

These projections are based on findings from ADVANCED PATTERNING 2006 to 2011, a report issued this month.  The report concludes that while the overall market will grow at 9% per year, older materials like g-line, i-line, and DUV resist will show little or no growth, while 193nm resists and related patterning materials will grow strongly.  There will be a 20% growth in 193nm photoresist demand over the forecast period, with 29% growth in demand of 193 BARCs and TARC demand growing at 55%.  Highest growth is forecast for materials for multilayer patterning applications that facilitate high resolution pattern transfer in dry or immersion exposure systems.

Overall, Linx Consulting sees a shift in the supplier base of positive photoresists to Japan with JSR Micro and TOK achieving a combined share of 47%.  Japanese suppliers commanded 77% share of the $1150 million resist market in 2006.  In the $234 million segment of 193nm resists the leading suppliers are JSR Micro, TOK, ShinEtsu and FujiFilm Electronic Materials, with combined share of 86% of the market in 2006.  The largest US supplier of photoresist is Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials.

In the $248 million ancillary materials segment the strongest suppliers are Brewer Science, RHEM, and AZ Electronic Chemicals, with a combined share of 70% of the market.  The need for functional layers which are not photosensitive is opening opportunities for new spin-on-materials to compete in this segment against more traditional CVD films developed by Applied Materials, Novellus and ASM.

This report is the most comprehensive and up-to-date study of advanced patterning yet published.  Focused on advanced technologies for IC manufacture the report analyzes customer needs, and technology trends, drawing the conclusion that multilayer patterning and multiple exposure schemes will be increasingly important in extending 193nm lithography through 45nm and 32nm half pitch patterning as EUV struggles to achieve the infrastructure reliability needed for manufacturing insertion.  The resulting requirement for improved immersion technology will drive the use of materials such as spin on hard masks, amorphous carbon layers, and silicon containing BARCs.

Linx Consulting is an international consulting firm serving the electronics industry. ADVANCED PATTERNING 2006 TO 2011is the latest in a series of reports designed to assist suppliers of electronic chemicals and materials as well as other value chain participants to better participate in the global electronics industry through the provision of knowledge-based services.  To obtain more information about this report or to review how Linx Consulting can assist with other needs please contact Mike Corbett at mcorbett@linx-consulting.com, +1 973.437.4517 or Mark Thirsk at mthirsk@linx-consulting.com, +1 617 273 8837.

CMP Consumables Market Tops a Record $1.1 Billion in 2005

Boston, Mass., April 21, 2006 – Continued growth in CMP operations has driven the CMP Consumables market to a record $1.1 billion in 2005 according to a recently completed industry analysis report from Linx Consulting.  The report establishes that the global market in 2005 for CMP Slurries and pads was $975 million combined, with the balance being cleaners and conditioners.

These projections are based on findings from CMP Technologies to the 45th Node report issued this week by Linx Consulting.  “Projecting forward, we see the market for slurries and pads utilized in CMP reaching almost $1.8 billion in 2009,” according to Mark Thirsk, Managing Partner at Linx Consulting.  Thirsk sees strong growth being driven by the continued conversion to copper interconnect, especially in increasing metal levels in logic devices and the conversion to copper interconnect in memory devices.  “Clearly, copper will drive CMP consumables for the 65 and 45 nm technology nodes,” Thirsk continues.  “We have developed detailed forecast models that examine CMP operations by device type, including DRAM, Flash, and various logic applications.  For each device category we then further examine the number of CMP operations as they pertain to copper, barrier, tungsten, oxide, STI, and polysilicon polishing applications.  For the first time this provides a very clear picture on where the CMP market is headed.”

Overall Linx Consulting sees the number of CMP operations increasing at about a 15% compound annual growth rate over the next four years.  This year growth will be underpinned by the production at the 130 nm node and continued growth of the 90 nm, whereas in 2008 and 2009 growth will be driven by the ramp of 65 nm device technology.  90 and 130 nm technology will continue to be CMP consumables demand drivers for several years, however.  “Suppliers who have succeeded at 130 and 90 nm processes will continue to realize strong revenues throughout the forecast period,” according to Mike Corbett, Managing Partner at Linx Consulting.  “Market leaders such as Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials with 41% market share, and Cabot Microelectronics, with 28% market share are the largest suppliers in the Pad and Slurry market.”

As part of this report, Linx Consulting also provides forecasts for CMP operations by devices type and application, detailed perspectives on CMP operations for 90, 65, and 45 nm process technologies, the impact of emerging technologies, and analysis of supplier positioning.  Of particular interest is the impact of new suppliers such as slurry producers, including Cheil Industries, who have made inroads in the slurry market in Korea and pad makers, including PPG, Praxair, SKC in Korea, and Toray in Japan.

Linx Consulting is an international consulting firm serving the electronics industry.  CMP TECHNOLOGIES AND MARKETS TO THE 45 NM NODE is the latest in a series of reports designed to assist suppliers of electronic chemicals and materials as well as other value chain participants to better participate in the global electronics industry through the provision of knowledge-based services.  To obtain more information about this report or to review how Linx Consulting can assist with other needs please contact Mike Corbett at mcorbett@linx-consulting.com telephone +1 973.437.4517 or Mark Thirsk at mthirsk@linx-consulting.com, telephone +1 617 273 8837.