Designing an ASIC is little bit like trying to hit the bullseye, in the dark. I’ve spent several decades in the ASIC business I can tell you this is what it’s like from first-hand experience. When the design team sets out to build a custom chip to make their product better, faster, more robust, etc. (pick the words you like), there is … Read More
Samtec Dominates DesignCon 2021
DesignCon has grown over the years to become a true system design show. The show’s tagline is WHERE THE CHIP MEETS TO BOARD. This is just the beginning. Besides the chip and the board there are all the challenges, opportunities, and options to get signals reliably propagated throughout the entire system. Power, signal integrity,… Read More
KLA – Chip process control outgrowing fabrication tools as capacity needs grow
-KLA dominates process control like ASML dominates litho
-Industry in “panic mode” over capacity drives process control
-Like others, KLA tool supplies are in demand & tight supply
-Balance of 2021 “filled out” – now booking for 2022
Solid numbers and very solid guide for a better second … Read More
LAM – Surfing the Spending Tsunami in Semiconductors – Trailing Edge Terrific
-$80B + in WFE with strong back half in 2021
-Trailing edge strength adds to overall great demand
-Supply side headwinds require effort- Malaysia now open
-It just comes down to execution which Lam has done well
Nice beat and sandbagged guide
As Lam has done consistently for many quarters now, they beat numbers with Revenues of $4.15B… Read More
Intel Accelerated
Intel presented yesterday on their plans for process technology and packaging over the next several years. This was the most detailed roadmap Intel has ever laid out. In this write up I will analyze Intel’s process announcement and how they match up with their competitors.
10nm Super Fin (SF)
10nm is now in volume production in three… Read More
ASML- A Semiconductor Market Leader-Strong Demand Across all Products/Markets
– Strong demand across logic/memory & leading/trailing edge
– Customers want units fast-no time to test
– The main question is can ASML ramp to meet demand?
Revenue & Earnings low due to systems being rushed to customers
ASML reported Euro 4B in sales and Euro 1B in net income which while within guidance… Read More
Electronics Recovery Mixed
Electronics production continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the recovery is mixed by country. The chart below shows three-month-average (3/12) change versus a year ago in electronics production by local currency for key Asian countries. China was averaging about 10% growth prior to the pandemic. After… Read More
WEBINAR: Maximizing Exit Valuations for Technology Companies
I had the opportunity to speak with Pete Rodriguez and Alain Labat in regards to the upcoming webinar on M&A. I have worked with both Pete and Alain in the past so I can tell you personally that this event will be well worth your time. This is truly an all star cast with a collective experience base with billions of dollars worth of … Read More
A Hardware Security Standard Advances
Security is a slippery topic. We all agree that “something should be done”, but most of us are waiting for someone else to lead the way. There’s no shortage of proprietary solutions, though given the distributed nature of the problem it’s difficult to see how those separately or collectively can rise to the occasion. What we really… Read More
How can Semiconductor Manufacturers add new Capacity to Meet Demand as Quickly as Possible?
The causes of the chip shortage crisis have been widely discussed, but what about specific solutions? How can semiconductor manufacturers add new capacity to meet demand as quickly as possible?
While there is a lot of talk about investment in building new chip plants, these traditional methods of manufacturing capacity growth… Read More
Rapidus, IBM, and the Billion-Dollar Silicon Sovereignty Bet