Large Equipment Companies – Applied Materials, Lam Research, and KLA-Tencor Losing Market Share to Smaller Companies in 2014 Says The Information Network

New Tripoli, PA, December 05, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Large semiconductor equipment manufacturers are losing market share in 2014 to much smaller companies as customers focus on technology and customer service rather than size, according to the report Applied Materials: Competing for World Dominance, recently published by The Information Network (www.theinformationnet.com), a New Tripoli, PA-based market research company.

As semiconductor manufacturers move to smaller features sizes on an integrated circuit, they are also moving to smaller companies to supply them with the equipment to make them. Semiconductor manufacturers focus on technology and customer service, and these smaller companies are able to react better and faster that larger companies.

“Hitachi High-Tech continues to impress us,” noted Kristian Castellano, an analyst with The Information Network. “In the plasma etch sector, we estimate that the company will increase its share over competitors, exhibiting a growth of 36% in 2014 over 2013, compared to 20% growth for Lam Research and 16% for Applied Materials.”

Hitachi High-Tech shined in 2013 as well, but growth was subdued because of the weak Yen, which, since market shares are given in Dollars instead of Yen, had a negative 20% impact on growth (in Dollars). However, if we look at growth in native currency, Hitachi High-Tech exhibited a growth of 19% compared to only 10% for Lam Research and negative 5% for Applied Materials.

Plasma Etch

Company

2013/2102 Growth

2013 Semiconductor Revenues ($ Billions)

2014/2013 Growth

Hitachi High Tech

19%

0.88

36%

Lam Research

10%

3.2

20%

Applied Materials

5%

5.2

16%

Source: The Information Network

In the metrology/inspection sector, we estimate that Hitachi High-Tech will grow 62% in 2014 over 2013, compared to 5% for KLA-Tencor, 20% for Nanometrics, 11% for Nova Measuring, and 0% for Rudolph Technologies.

In 2013, Hitachi High-Tech dropped 19% from 2012 in Yen, while in Dollars KLA-Tencor was down 13%, Nanometrics down 25%, and Rudolph Technologies down 52%.

Inspection/Metrology

Company

2013/2102 Growth

2013 Semiconductor Revenues ($ Billions)

2014/2013 Growth

Hitachi High Teh

-19%

0.88

62%

KLA-Tencor

13%

2.2

5%

Nanometrics

-25%

0.14

20%

Nova Measuring

16%

0.11

11%

Rudolph Technologies

-52%

0.18

0%

Source: The Information Network

“These data fly in the face of Applied Materials comments over the past year that the merger with Tokyo Electron, which will create a $10 billion company, will gain market share against its competitors,” added Castellano.

The Information Network is a leading consulting and market research company addressing the semiconductor, LCD, HDD, and solar industries.