CMP Slurry Market To More Than Double In 2003 Says The Information Network

Business Wire, April 7, 1999

NEW TRIPOLI, PA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 1999--The CMP (Chemical Mechanical Planarization) slurry market will more than double in 2003 from 1998 levels, according to the report CMP Technology: Competition, Products, Markets, recently published by The Information Network, a New Tripoli, PA-based market research company.

"The CMP market is outpacing the rest of the semiconductor equipment market," notes Dr. Robert N. Castellano, President of The Information Network. "The slurry market will outpace the growth of the CMP equipment market because of the increasingly large installed base of tools."

The CMP slurry market will be adversely affected by the use of a slurryless process from 3M (NYSE:MMM). While Cabot (NYSE:CBT) leads in the marketplace, Rodel not only competes directly with Cabot, but now also markets the 3M technology. Rohm and Haas (NYSE:ROH) has a strong position in Rodel.

CMP waste treatment companies will also feel the impact of the 3M technology, but will benefit from the large growth of the slurry market.

"We are bullish on the following companies offering CMP slurry waste treatments: Asahi; Kinetico/EPOC Water; Kurita; Microbar/EnChem; Millipore (NYSE:MIL); Pall (NYSE:PLL); Toshiba Ceramics; and U.S. Filters (NYSE:USF), based on their technology and, importantly, management," added Dr. Castellano.

The Information Network is the leading consulting and market research company addressing the semiconductor, computer, and telecommunications industries.