The market for micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), which
includes products such as automobile airbag systems, display systems
and inkjet cartridges totaled $40 billion in 2006, and is expected to
top $72 billion by 2011, according to Global MEMS/Microsystems Markets
and Opportunities, a comprehensive new market research report from SEMI
and Yole
Developpement.
The MEMS devices at the heart of these systems totaled $5.9
billion in 2006, and are projected to grow to $10.8 billion by 2011,
with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13 percent, fueled by
increasing use in consumer electronics. MEMS devices are defined as
die-level components of first-level packaging, and include pressure
sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, microphones, digital mirror
displays, micro fluidic devices, etc.
The materials and equipment used to manufacture MEMS devices
topped $1 billion in 2006, with MEMS materials forecasted to grow at
CAGR of 13%, while MEMS equipment is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 9%
through 2011. Materials demand is driven by substrates, making up over
70% of the market, packaging coatings and increasing use of chemical
mechanical planarization (CMP). While MEMS manufacturing continues to
be dominated by used semiconductor equipment, there is a migration to
200 mm lines and select new tools, including etch and bonding for
certain MEMS applications.