Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2000/06/27/chip_toolmakers_grow_fat/

Chip toolmakers grow fat on soaring CPU demand

0.18 micron shift helps too

By Team Register

Posted in Channel, 27th June 2000 11:26 GMT

The world+dog's demand for chips is having a knock-on effect of the health of chip-making equipment manufacturers. Sales of fabrication kit grew by over 100 per cent in April, according to the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ).

Sales grew 116 per cent in April compared to the same period the year before. Sales totalled $3.81 billion, said the SEAJ. April marked the tenth month of year-on-year growth after a 15-month period during which sales tailed off.

The SEAJ also noted that equipment sales are driving up due to the move of chip makers towards smaller transistor sizes, as witnessed by the shift from 0.25 micron processes to 0.18 micron and smaller. ®