SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Japan's fab-tool industry continues to suffer.
Japan's S.E.S. Co. Ltd. has filed for bankruptcy protection under a rehabilitation law with 14.27 billion yen ($158.4 million) in liabilities.
The company made some headlines in recent times. Last year, S.E.S. reportedly shipped the world's first 450-mm tool--a next-generation wafer cleaning system, according to sources. The first 450-mm tool, which is said to be a R&D prototype, was reportedly going to South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., according to sources.
S.E.S. provides wet station, including immersion multiple-bath and one-bath type tools.
Others are also suffering. This week, Hitachi Ltd. took a majority stake in Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc., a supplier of wireless communications and information systems, broadcasting and video systems, and semiconductor manufacturing tools, for about 10.457 billion yen ($117.4 million). Like most fab-tool vendors, Hitachi Kokusai Electric appears to be struggling amid the downturn and needs Hitachi for help.
Tokyo Electron Ltd. and others are reporting poor sales. Based on the early returns, the fab-tool and electronic materials markets are off to a rocky start in 2009.
Times are bad in the sector, which faces another downturn. Applied, Axcelis, Cognex, Entegris, FSI, Intevac, KLA-Tencor, Lam, Mattson, Micronic, SemiTool, Tegal and other fab-tool makers have recently announced layoffs.
Semiconductor equipment spending is projected to decline by 34.1 percent in 2009, according to a revised forecast by Gartner. The equipment industry is expected to fall 31.7 percent in 2009, according to the firm.
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