Jan 8 2015
Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Photomask Market 2014-2018" report to their offering.
The Global Photomask market will grow at a CAGR of 3.24% over the period 2013-2018.
Photomasks are high-purity quartz or glass plates, which contain pattern of ICs. Photomasks are used in the reproduction of pattern structures for the manufacture of electronic circuits, printed circuit boards and LCD displays, and for the serial production of reticles and other microstructures.
One major trend emerging in the market is the strategic collaboration among supply chain members. The capital-intensive nature of the Photomask industry and low-profit margins has compelled vendors to form strategic alliances to lower the cost of manufacturing and focus on delivering high-quality photomasks to customers.
According to the report, one of the main drivers of the market is an increase in chip density. Over the years, the number of functions an IC has been able to do, have increased considerably, while the cost of the IC has been gradually decreasing, which is primarily because of the high circuit densities that allow more circuitry within the same area at the same cost.
Further, the report states that one of the major challenges faced by the market is high capital investment. Miniaturization of semiconductor ICs has made the manufacturing process of photomasks quite complex. This has further increased the price pressures on photomask vendors, and the low-profit margin in this market has forced many vendors to move from merchant to captive mask shops.
Key Vendors
- Toppan Photomasks
- Dai Nippon Printing
- Photronics
Source: http://www.researchandmarkets.com/