By Colleen Taylor, Contributing Editor -- Electronic News
Despite some projections of looming problems in the lithography realm, Netherlands-based semiconductor manufacturing systems developer ASML Holding NV has projected that the global semiconductor lithography market could grow to more than $14.4 billion (10 billion Euros) by 2012, doubling the market's size of $7.2 billion (5 billion Euros) in 2006.
ASML is the world's largest manufacturer of lithography machines. The company's outlook, which was disclosed in its meeting with financial analysts and investors, would mean annual growth for the lithography market of 13 percent on average. ASML said its estimates are based on semiconductor market forecasts from industry analysts and customer node transition roadmaps.
In a statement, ASML said it is preparing "multiple lithography technologies that support Moore's Law well into the next decade." According to the company, these technologies include Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV), computational lithography, double patterning, and 3D device integration enablers like overlay and CD uniformity. All options will support the larger semiconductor industry's growth, ASML said, and will require "sophisticated" lithography tools.
The projected boost would certainly be appreciated by the company, which last month posted year-over-year declines in sales and profits in its latest quarterly report. ASML's Q3 net sales were $1.3 billion (940 million euros), down from Q3 2006 net sales of $1.4 billion (958 million euros) ASML's Q3 net income was $238.5 million (168 million euros) or 17.9 percent of net sales was a slide from its Q3 2006 net income of $244.1 million (172 million euros) or 17.9 percent of sales.
