EV Group (EVG), a leading supplier of wafer bonding and lithography equipment for the MEMS, nanotechnology and semiconductor markets, today announced it is witnessing continued momentum during its fiscal year 2009 as the company moves through its third quarter, ending June 30. Specifically in North America, EVG is already seeing an increase in order intake-approximately 10 percent compared to this time last year. The rise in intake is attributed to growing demand for 3D/TSV-related equipment for volume manufacturing along with heightened orders from research institutes, such as SEMATECH, and leading universities.
Also contributing to the increase is a more than two-fold growth in EVG's North American service business compared to the prior year. At its Tempe, Arizona-based facility, the company offers pilot production services in cooperation with locally-based companies, such as Entrepix-a leading provider of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) and related wafer surface conditioning foundry and equipment services. EVG's service offering supports R&D efforts as well as low-volume needs for both small and large companies, essentially mitigating investment risks while continuing to innovate.
"Despite the downturn, we are continuing to see positive momentum in the market. While no one is buying capacity, the growth we're witnessing indicates that no one has stopped investing in technology, primarily for cutting-edge technologies, such as 3D/TSV. They are simply approaching the environment more cautiously, and are evaluating various avenues to avoid costly investment risks, which is why we are seeing a significant rise in demand for our pilot line production service," said EV Group's vice president and general manager, North America, Steven Dwyer. "What's more, through this tough economic time, we're seeing a pivotal shift in the industry, where equipment suppliers and research institutions and universities alike are beginning to rally together and work in greater collaboration in preparation for when the market rebounds. This movement toward increased partnership is very much in line with what is engrained in EVG's business-a relentless commitment to fueling innovation."