Semiconductor materials such as wafers and integrated circuits (ICs) are used in all modern devices such as computers, smartphones, and mobile devices. These materials play an essential role in powering these devices.
Wafers and ICs
Wafers are semiconductor materials used in fabrication of ICs. They are made of crystalline silicon and known as substrates. They are primarily used by the solar and consumer electronics industries. The production of these materials is directly proportional to its increased capacity. It’s known as Moore’s Law.
Materials such as graphene and copper are increasingly being used to reduce production costs. Major manufacturers like Intel are planning to use extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) to create advanced ICs.
Latest Trends
Trays and carriers are preferred by major companies for shipping and handling of these materials. Entegris Inc., a US company, has launched the 450 mm P2 wafer carriers for transporting 450 mm wafers securely. The container has adhered to latest industry standards and has chances of low particle generation as well as preserves the fabrication of wafers.
IBM Corporation and 3M Company are collaborating on developing an adhesive which can package semiconductors in towers. 3M Company has also created a wafer-supporting system for handling thin wafers. This technology, if successful, can be a breakthrough in the photonics industry.
Market Overview
The worldwide wafer and IC shipping and handling market is anticipated at USD 14.16 billion by 2025. It is expected to display a significant growth rate over the forecast period (2014 - 2025). It is driven by the surging demand of ICs in the electronics industry.
The products within the market are divided according to IC processing & storage, IC shipping and handling, and wafer shipping and handling. Wafer carriers had high demand on account of the need of silicon wafers by the electronics and solar industries. JEDEC (Joint Electronic Device Engineering Council) trays, a product under IC processing and storage, had accounted for over 90% demand in 2015.
Asia Pacific can dominate the global market due to the presence of various manufacturers regionally as well as being responsible for global exports from South Korea and Taiwan. North America market can drive the demand of storage and processing of ICs due to advances in technology in the region. Prominent players include Ted Pella, Inc.; ePAK International, Inc.; Entegris, Inc.; and 3M Company.
In-Depth research report on wafer and IC shipping and handling market:
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