news digest ♦ Equipment and Materials
David Lishan, Director-Technical Marketing explains, “Based on a history of repeat orders, Plasma-Therm has been a key supplier to wireless compound semiconductor manufactures for many years.
Follow-on orders are especially encouraging as they confirm we are continuously providing solutions that meet the expectations of our customers. On time solutions, whether for capacity or technology needs, are a result of close collaboration with our customers.”
Veeco affected by weak MOCVD and data storage market
The firm’s system shipments were at very low levels and bookings were the weakest since early 2009
Veeco Instruments is providing select financial metrics and business highlights for the quarter ended March 31st, 2013.
Due to the accounting review announced on November 15th, 2012, the company is unable to report revenue and earnings information.
The company’s unaudited cash balance at March 31st, 2013 was $588 million, up from $579 million at December 31st, 2012.
First quarter system shipments declined sharply, on a sequential basis, in both MOCVD and Data Storage.
With few MOCVD deals available, Veeco continues to experience significant competitive pricing pressure.
John R. Peeler, Veeco’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, comments, “First quarter business conditions remained extremely challenging, with system shipments at very low levels and bookings the weakest we have seen since early 2009. We are pleased that Veeco continues to weather this business downturn with a strong cash position.”
“Looking ahead, end market signals in MOCVD are mixed but appear to be trending in a positive direction,” adds Peeler. “Some key LED customers are operating at close to full utilisation rates, and we are now booking some rush purchase orders - the first we have seen in two years. In particular, some Chinese customers with committed funding for MOCVD equipment are planning fab expansions. In Data Storage, customers are making technology buys and we are seeing an increase in
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www.compoundsemiconductor.net June 2013
quotations for MBE systems for research applications. While visibility remains limited, we anticipate meaningfully higher bookings in the second quarter.”
Peeler concludes, “It is a top priority to conclude our accounting review as soon as possible. Veeco’s other key focus areas for 2013 are our plans to fortify and build on our leadership positions in our core markets, especially in LED lighting which we believe is a huge market opportunity in front of us, and to leverage our technologies into adjacent markets like power electronics, OLED, MEMS and EUV.”
Veeco’s process equipment solutions enable the manufacture of LEDs, power electronics, hard drives, MEMS and wireless chips. The firm provides MOCVD, MBE, Ion Beam and other advanced thin film process technologies.
SAMCO expands in Silicon Valley
The company was one of the first Japanese venture companies to open an R&D centre in Silicon Valley
On April 15th 2013, SAMCO Inc, head quartered in Kyoto, Japan expanded its OPTO Films Research Laboratory in California’s Silicon Valley.
The firm did this to strengthen its research structure and after-sale process support.
Placing an emphasis on interaction with cutting edge research SAMCO is expanding its research and development activities at its three global R&D centres – The ‘Kyoto Research and Development Centre’; the Silicon Valley ‘OPTO Films Research Laboratory’; and ‘Cambridge Research Centre’ located in England’s Cambridge University.
SAMCO was the first Japanese venture company to open an R&D centre in the Silicon Valley. The OPTO Films Research and Development Centre in Silicon Valley was established in 1987 as SAMCO’s first overseas research and development centre.
Since its establishment it has lead the research of carbon type materials such as diamond thin films, diamond like carbon (DLC), and materials for electrodes etc., as well as the development of thin film deposition systems.
What’s more, the facility also plays an important role in joint research with universities.
Highlighting SAMCO’s plans for business expansion
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