Applied, TEL, ASML retain top spots in VLSI’s 2006 equipment supplier rankings

By Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor -- Electronic News, 4/24/2007

For the fifth consecutive year, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron and ASML claimed the top three spots in VLSI Research Inc.’s ranking of the top players in the semiconductor manufacturing equipment space for 2006, the market research firm reported today.

KLA-Tencor remained in fourth place in 2005 and 2006, while Lam Research moved up from seventh place in 2005 and 2004 to fifth place in 2006. Other equipment suppliers retained their respective ranks from the prior year.

Source: VLSI Research Inc.

VLSI said the sales values shown in the table above include revenues realized from the sale of wafer processing equipment, test and related equipment, and assembly equipment, plus the value of service and support.

The equipment included allows the manufacture of semiconductors, thin film heads and MEMS.

In 2006, the value of all these sectors totaled $53.5 billion, representing 23 percent growth over 2005. Sales of wafer fabrication equipment grew 28 percent in 2006, while test and related equipment increased 14 percent, and assembly tools at 8 percent.

The combined revenue growth of the top 10 IC equipment suppliers outpaced that of the overall industry at 26 percent, the firm noted.

Six companies registered sales increases of 20 percent or more, led by Lam Research at 59 percent, followed by ASML at 44 percent, Applied Materials at 34 percent, Dainippon Screen at 32 percent, Novellus at 26 percent and Nikon at 21 percent. Most of the remaining top 10 companies also reported double digit growth.

Hitachi High-Technologies, Teradyne, ASM International, Varian, and ACCRETECH–Tokyo Seimitsu rounded up the next five spots to make up the Top 15.

VLSI made a special notation for Verigy as an ‘unofficially’ ranked company in the 14th position. Verigy did not exist until June 2006 when they were spun off from Agilent Technologies Inc. However, its revenues are included from the first half of 2006 when they were still a part of Agilent in the analysis; they easily qualify for the Top 15. 

Verigy’s revenues as shown in the table include those earned in the first half as Agilent and in the second half as Verigy for 2006. The revenues for 2004 and 2005 were those earned by Agilent.