The word on the street is that TSMC isn't all that keen on 450mm wafer development and that it was bullied by Intel into putting its name to the recent press release saying that Intel, Samsung and TSM were proposing 450mm wafer development.
So that leaves only two companies on the planet really wanting 450mm, Intel and Samsung because, according to the CTO of Applied Materials, Dr Mark Pinto, "No one else wants it."
So that leaves only two companies on the planet really wanting 450mm, Intel and Samsung because, according to the CTO of Applied Materials, Dr Mark Pinto, "No one else wants it."
As the leading manufacturer of semiconductor production equipment, Applied will have a pretty big say in what goes on.
At the recent IET/GSA International Semiconductor Forum in London, Ajit Manocha, executive vice president for worldwide operations at Spansion, asked a large audience of industry people: "Does anyone expect 450mm to happen?" Not a single person in the room raised a hand.
Last week I met Maria Marced, the new President for Europe for TSMC. Marced used to work with Michael Splinter, the CEO of Applied, when they were both at Intel.
"Have you asked Mr Splinter what he thinks about 450mm wafer development", I asked Marced.
"No", replied Marced, "but I will."
Marced said she'd let me know the answer, but I think I already have a pretty good idea what it's going to be.
TOMORROW: TOP TEN CRITICIAL SUBSYSTEM SUPPLIERS
At the recent IET/GSA International Semiconductor Forum in London, Ajit Manocha, executive vice president for worldwide operations at Spansion, asked a large audience of industry people: "Does anyone expect 450mm to happen?" Not a single person in the room raised a hand.
Last week I met Maria Marced, the new President for Europe for TSMC. Marced used to work with Michael Splinter, the CEO of Applied, when they were both at Intel.
"Have you asked Mr Splinter what he thinks about 450mm wafer development", I asked Marced.
"No", replied Marced, "but I will."
Marced said she'd let me know the answer, but I think I already have a pretty good idea what it's going to be.
TOMORROW: TOP TEN CRITICIAL SUBSYSTEM SUPPLIERS
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Comments (2)
Intel, Samsung and TSMC are by far the largest buyers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. TSMC might not want to move to 450mm as quickly as Intel and Samsung, but when the equipment is available, they will.
The equipment makers might rather milk 300mm wafers for a while longer, but with development assistance from Intel and Samsung and the prospect of selling an entirely new tool set vs select tools needed for a new process, it makes sense for them to satisfy their major customers.
Posted by Bruce | May 20, 2008 12:44 PM
Posted on May 20, 2008 12:44
Yes, but how much development assistance if the project will cost $100 billion?
Applied's CTO was pretty sniffy about the idea of doing 450mm and, with under 50 per cent of Applied's new orders by value in Q208 coming from orders for IC manufacturing equipment. (most of the new orders by value coming from FPD and solar csutomers), you have to ask: Who are Applied's major customers these days?
Posted by David Manners | May 20, 2008 12:58 PM
Posted on May 20, 2008 12:58