Monday, March 30, 2015

Renewable Power Growth in the US and Canada Supported by Strong Local Policies

The US and Canada are global leaders in renewable power generation. The growth momentum of their renewable industries has primarily been driven by the support mechanisms provided by federal and state governments. Although both countries have federal regulations in place for renewable industry, states and provinces with strong policy frameworks have been the leading contributors to installed capacity, and the pattern of development has largely been dependent on the support mechanisms provided.


In the US, the growth of the renewable energy industry has been led by the state-level Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), combined with other tax incentives and subsidies. California and Texas, which have been providing policy support to the renewable energy industry for more than a decade, are the leaders in renewable capacity in the US. The Canadian government is supporting renewable energy with its ecoEnergy program, and Ontario, with its comprehensive Feed-in Tariff (FiT) program, is the leading province in terms of renewable power capacity.


Canada is a leading country in terms of the use of renewable energy resources for electricity generation and heating. In 2013, renewable energy, including small hydropower, accounted for 8.9% of its electricity generation. Wind power is the most prominent source of renewable energy, generating around 39% of Canada’s renewable total – including hydropower – in 2013.


Renewable Energy HandbookThe new report available from Electronics.ca Publications,  “North and South America Renewable Energy Policy Handbook 2014“, presents an in-depth analysis of the renewable energy policies across the major countries in North and South America namely the US, Canada, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. It also presents the major renewable policy frameworks in place in some of the major states in the US and Canada.  This report provides the current and future renewable energy targets and plans along with the present policy framework, giving a fair idea of overall growth potential of their renewable energy industry. Major technology specific policies and incentives are also provided in each of these countries. Finally, the research presents insights to major policy initiatives for the market development of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biopower and biofuels.


 



Renewable Power Growth in the US and Canada Supported by Strong Local Policies

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) Market Report

ELECTRONICS.CA PUBLICATIONS announces the availability of a new report entitled “Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) 2014-2024: Forecasts, Technologies, Players”.  According to this report, WSN market will grow to $1.8 billion in 2024. These figures refer to WSN defined as wireless mesh networks, i.e. self-healing and self-organising. Wireless Sensor Networks will eventually enable the automatic monitoring of forest fires, avalanches, hurricanes, failure of country wide utility equipment, traffic, hospitals and much more over wide areas, something previously impossible. It has started already with more humble killer applications such as automating meter readings in buildings, and manufacture and process control.


The WSN business is set to become a multi-billion dollar activity but only if there is major progress with standards and technology. This techno-marketing report scopes manufacturers and developers and looks closely at the impediments to rollout and how to overcome them. For example, today’s power sources often stand in way of the desired 20 year life so the report looks closely at how energy harvesting can help and profiles the relevant power source manufacturers. Ten year WSN market forecasts are made based on the very latest information.


This new report draws lessons from many successful installations in the last year. It looks at the complex standards scene with particular focus on WirelessHART that is the key to applications in the process industries in the short and medium term and it shows how the alternative ISA 11.11a has some way to go but may prove useful over a wider field of application and eventually subsume WirelessHART.  It examines recent successes of the various backers of ZigBee-related solutions, who is behind the alternatives and how they see the future.



Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications’ web site: “Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) 2014-2024: Forecasts, Technologies, Players



Partial List of Tables:


1.1. WSN Forecast 2014-2024 with RTLS for comparison

1.2. WSN and ZigBee node numbers million 2014, 2024, 2034 and market drivers

1.3. Average number of nodes per system 2014, 2024, 2034

1.4. WSN node price dollars 2014, 2024, 2034 and cost reduction factors

1.5. WSN node total value $ million 2014, 2024, 2034

1.6. WSN systems and software excluding nodes $ million 2014, 2024, 2034

1.7. Total WSN market value $ million 2014, 2024, 2034

1.8. Comparison of the three generations of active RFID

1.9. Overall Wireless Sensor Systems (WSS) market

2.1. Defining features of the three generations of active RFID

3.1. WirelessHART Board of Directors

5.1. 142 WSN suppliers and developers tabulated by country, website and activity, including suppliers of wireless sensors not yet meshed.



Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) Market Report

Friday, March 27, 2015

Solar Panels Markets Reach $180.7 Billion By 2021

ELECTRONICS.CA PUBLICATIONS announces the availability of a new report entitled “Solar Panels: Market Shares, Strategy, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2015 to 2021″. The 2015 study has 537 pages, 212 tables and figures. Worldwide solar panels markets are growing as units become more efficient and less costly for generating electricity. Rapid adoption of solar panels worldwide is occurring as systems provide peak power efficiently.


The ability to remain competitive depends upon the ability to develop technologically advanced products and processes. What better investment in infrastructure on the part of a government than solar power? Cheap energy promises to provide water, cheap manufacturing, electric vehicles, all sorts of things more useful than a war that the government might alternatively spend its money on.


Main areas of solar panels is for: large scale utility systems connected to the electrical grid. Residential and commercial markets are evolving further.


Solar panel market driving forces relate primarily to the prospect of inexpensive, lasting energy from the sun. In 2015, analysts agree, a tipping point has been reached, solar panel markets are at the critical point in the market development, where an inevitability of adoption is certain. Solar panels markets have been an up and down evolving situation that was completely dependent on government subsidies.


Now the government subsidies seem certain. Market development without government subsidies seems certain. Utilities have to have solar energy. Governments have to have solar energy. People have to have solar energy. The stability of the solar panel market leads to a new and irreversible positive thrust for the market. Market development is certain to occur, the question is simply how fast.


Solar panel markets have crossed a threshold and gains will possibly have significant momentum, triggered by the technology. Solar panel adoption is now a dynamic process of innovation, insight, and influence through advocacy. The critical point in solar panel adoption is a process that is now unstoppable.


The growth of solar has been driven by a single paradigm at the federal and state levels worldwide. Now, with China so entirely dedicated to making solar less expensive than coal electrical generation, solar energy will take hold worldwide. Almost all solar has taken advantage of — and needed to take advantage of — state-level incentives.


China has had government subsidies for a long time. This continues to be the case, but in China now, grid parity is a result of taxing coal electrical generation, making solar panels attractive. The US is poised to see rapid adoption of solar panels in various regions.


According to Susan Eustis, the lead author of the team that created the study, “Solar panel market driving forces relate primarily to the prospect of inexpensive, lasting energy from the sun. In 2015, analysts agree, a tipping point has been reached, solar panel markets are at the critical point in the market development, where an inevitability of adoption is certain. Utilities have to have solar energy to meet the regulatory requirements. Governments have to have solar energy to achieve clean air standards. People have to have solar energy to charge electric cars. The stability of the solar panel market leads to a new and irreversible positive thrust for the market. Market development is certain to occur, the question is simply how fast.”


Solar panels have moved from the trial stage to the early adopter stage. Markets at $24.2 billion in 2014 are expected to reach $180.7 billion by 2021. Growth is expected to achieve rapid adoption of renewable energy.



Solar panels market sharesDetails of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications’ web site. View the report: 
Solar Panels: Market Shares, Strategy, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2015 to 2021“.


 



Solar Panels Markets Reach $180.7 Billion By 2021

FOD Prevention in Electronics Assembly

The reliability and functionality of electronic devices can be severely affected by foreign objects and debris (FOD). To help industry eliminate FOD issues, IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries®  has released a training video, DVD-172C, “FOD Prevention in Electronics Assembly.”  The training video provides information and techniques to help eliminate FOD during electronics assembly, including hand soldering, surface mount technology and plated-through hole assembly processes and box build/wire assembly. In addition, DVD-172C explains the six steps of proper housekeeping, and covers tool control, hardware control, material handling as well as electrostatic discharge prevention.
           

“It’s a manufacturer’s responsibility to ensure that all assemblies are built free from FOD — not only for the economic health and reputation of a company, but also for the safety and reliability of the final products delivered to customers,” said Mark Pritchard, IPC director of media training. “Eliminating FOD requires awareness of the problem and control of its sources and this training video drives home the importance of this often overlooked and vexing problem in electronics assembly.”


Available on standard definition DVD in wide-screen format or Blu-ray in hi-definition, DVD-172C, “FOD Prevention in Electronics Assembly” can be purchased from Electronics.ca Online Store at http://www.electronics.ca/store/fod-prevention-in-electronics-assembly.html.  Online video training is also available.


Electronics.ca IPC MembershipElectronics.ca Knowledge Center offers access to some of the world’s most renowned specialists in academia and industry through exclusive agreements with individuals, institutions, and corporations.  Electronics.ca Publications is a member of  IPC,  the printed circuit industries trade association,  and an authorized global distributor of IPC standards.  Our courses provide a comprehensive education for new employees, cross-training for your existing workforce, or pre-employment training for students entering the electronics industry. You can train, test and certify your employees in the fundamentals of semiconductor fabrication, PCB, and electronics assembly.



FOD Prevention in Electronics Assembly

Microfluidics Market worth $3.5 Billion by 2018

The “Microfluidics Market Materials (Polymers, Silicon, Glass), Pharmaceuticals (Microreactors, Toxicity Screening, Lab on Chip, Proteomic & Genomic Analysis) Drug Delivery Devices (Microneedles, Micropumps), IVD (POC) – Global Trends & Forecast to 2018” analyzes and studies the major market drivers, restraints, and opportunities in North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World.


This report studies the global microfluidics market over the forecast period of 2013 to 2018. The global microfluidics market is valued at $1.59 billion in 2013 and is poised to reach $3.57 billion by 2018, at a CAGR of 17.6%.


The microfluidics market is categorized based on materials, products, and applications. The polymers market (in the materials segment) and in-vitro diagnostics market (in the products segment) are considered as potential market segments. The rising demand for POC diagnostic devices, quick return on investments provided by microfluidic devices which helps in cost reduction, and miniaturization of microfluidic chips are the major drivers for this market. The polymers market commands the largest share of the microfluidics materials market in 2013 and is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of more than 20% during the study period. The growth in the adoption rate of polymers by manufacturers, which is driven by favorable properties of polymers such as enhanced mechanical strength, optical transparency, chemical stability, biocompatibility, reduced costs, enhanced profit margins, and extended applications, is the major driver for this market.


The in-vitro diagnostics segment of the microfluidic products market commands the largest share and is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR in the next five years. The large share of this segment can be attributed to the increased adoption of microfluidics in IVD by major diagnostic companies such as Roche Diagnostics (Switzerland), Becton Dickinson and Company (U.S.), Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), and Cepheid (U.S.). The various advantages offered by microfluidics are reduced reagent consumption, quick analysis, and enhanced accuracy of test results. The microfluidics clinical diagnostics market within the IVD segment is estimated to witness the strongest growth from 2013 to 2018. Enhanced applications in diagnostics such as microfluidic flow cytometry and cell surface markers are driving the growth of this market.


The drug delivery devices market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the study period. The increasing use of microneedles and micropumps driven by the enhanced efficacy of drug delivery are the significant drivers of the market growth. Micro pumps offer various advantages such as low sample consumption, which leads to cost reduction. This is one of the major factors driving the growth of this market. The micropumps market within the drug delivery devices segment is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR from 2013 to 2018.


The Point-of-Care diagnostics applications segment accounts for the largest share of the microfluidics applications market in 2013 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 20% during the study period. A number of factors such as the growing demand for carrying out medical tests at or near the site of patient care in hospitals or at home, low consumption of samples and reagents, miniaturization of devices, and faster time of analysis are driving the growth of the POC diagnostics market.


North America accounts for the largest share of the global microfluidics market in 2013. However, the Asian region is expected to grow at a higher CAGR in the forecast period. A number of factors such as lower labor and raw material costs, and growth in investments due to favorable economic conditions (especially in China and India) are responsible for the high growth of the microfluidics market in Asia.


Major players in the microfluidics market include Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Agilent Technologies (U.S.), Caliper Life Sciences (PerkinElmer) (U.S.), Cepheid (U.S.), Danaher Corporation (U.S.), Life Technologies Corporation (U.S.), and Roche Diagnostics (Germany). A majority of companies in the microfluidics market are from the U.S.


Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications’ web site. View the report:  Microfluidics Market By Materials, Pharmaceuticals, Drug Delivery Devices, IVD – Global Trends & Forecast to 2018.



Microfluidics Market worth $3.5 Billion by 2018

Thursday, March 26, 2015

World Security Equipment Demand to Rise 6.8% Annually Through 2018

World demand for security equipment will advance 6.8 percent annually to $125 billion in 2018. The fastest gains will be in relatively underdeveloped security markets located mainly in Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Because the intensity of security product use is relatively low in these areas, there is still significant growth potential. In addition, these markets will be supported by economic growth, new business formation, foreign investment activity, rising urbanization, and growing middle and upper class populations, which will provide means to invest in security products. Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications" web site. View the report: World Security Equipment Market Report.

Western European Electronics Industry Report

2014 witnessed a further year of slow or declining output across the Western European electronics industry. Hopes of a sustained recovery failed to materialise as the on-going problems in the Eurozone re-surfaced and economic growth stalled in the second half of the year. West European electronics industry output for electronic equipment declined by 0.2% in 2014 and followed a more substantial fall of 3.4% in the prior year. After three years however, there are once again signs that the economies of Western Europe are beginning to show the potential for a sustained economic recovery. In combination with demand from emerging markets, albeit at a potentially slower pace than in previous years, this should support a recovery in electronics output in 2015 with stronger growth in the second half of the year accelerating in 2016 and 2017. Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications" web site. View the report: Yearbook of World Electronics Data . Volume 1: 2015 West Europe.

Semiconductor Market Forecast For Wearable Electronics

There are three major factors driving the proliferation of wearable products in the market today: 1. Readily available component technologies. There is a readily available supply of low cost components for small form factor wearable products. Sensors, Bluetooth components and other key components are inexpensive and available for entrepreneurs to use in their designs. 2. 3D Printing. 3D Printing allows companies to easily design and fabricate their wearable products. 3. Access to Crowd Funding. Many of the startup companies are leveraging crowd funding sources such as Kickstarter to fund their development plans and test market acceptance. Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications" web site. View the report: Wearable Electronics and Semiconductor Markets.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Global Market for Active Optical Cables is Projected to Surpass US$2 Billion by 2020

ELECTRONICS.CA PUBLICATIONS announces the availability of a new report on the global Active Optical Cables market, covering the industry segments, trends, growth drivers, market share, market size and demand forecasts.  Global market for Active Optical Cables (AOC) is projected to surpass US$2 billion by 2020, driven by bandwidth explosion, expansion of internet infrastructure, and advancements in fiber optics technology.


Need For Bandwidth Drives Demand for Active Optical Cables


Active Optical Cables present an integral part of contemporary data communication platforms. Defined as a cabling solution that provides electrical to optical conversion on cable ends for improved speed and distance efficiency, active optical cables are witnessing tremendous growth. Ever growing need for bandwidth and advancements in cabling technology represent fundamental factors driving growth in the region. Inherent advantages of active optical cables such as lower signal processing, enhanced signal integrity, greater airflow through smaller conduits, and superior flexibility routability and wider reach than conventional copper cables are driving their adoption.


Data Centers represents the largest end-use sector. Growth however, is forecast to come from emerging applications in personal computing, digital signage and Home Theater. Explosive growth in consumer Internet traffic worldwide driven by the surge in demand for mobile data and video services is yielding significant growth in demand for high speed and efficient transmission technologies. The scenario is driving expansion of existing capacity using Active Optical Cables to ensure efficient transmission of data. Traditionally, growth in the AOC market was driven by InfiniBand interface in commercial applications such as supercomputers and server applications. Over the years, the InfiniBand segment moved from the traditional 10G QSFP+ format to 14G FDR QSFP+ fiber optic cables, making it the strongest AOC application till date. Significant opportunities also lie ahead for QSFP and CXP active optical cables with 100 Gbps rate.


As stated by the new market research report on Active Optical Cables, the United States represents the largest market worldwide. Emerging markets are expected to spearhead growth driven by strong economic development and growing adoption of new communication technologies. Asia-Pacific is projected to emerge as the fastest growing regional market with a CAGR of 58.6% over the analysis period.


Major players covered in the report include 3M Company, Avago Technologies, Chromis Fiberoptics Inc., Emcore Corporation, FCI SA, Fujikura Ltd., Hitachi Metals Ltd., Siemon Company, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., and TE Connectivity Ltd., among others.


The research report titled “Active Optical Cables: A Global Strategic Business Report”, provides a comprehensive review of trends, drivers, issues, and strategic industry activities of major companies worldwide. The report provides market estimates and projections for geographic markets such as the US, Canada, Japan, Europe (France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China and Rest of Asia-Pacific), and Rest of World. End-use segments analyzed for the global market include Data Centers, Digital Signage and Others.


Active Optical Cables IndustryDetails of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications’ web site. View the report: “Active Optical Cables: A Global Strategic Business Report“.


 



Global Market for Active Optical Cables is Projected to Surpass US$2 Billion by 2020

RFID Market & Industry Analysis

This report provides the key data and analysis of extensive research including interviews with RFID adopters and solution providers in the various applicational RFID markets, giving an unprecedented level of insight into the total RFID industry and what is really happening. IDTechEx find that in 2013, the total RFID market is worth $7.88 billion, up from $6.98 billion in 2012, and growing to $9.2 billion in 2014. This includes tags, readers and software/services for RFID cards, labels, fobs and all other form factors. IDTechEx forecast that to rise to $30.24 billion in 2024.


In retail, RFID is seeing rapid growth for apparel tagging – that application alone demands 2.25 billion RFID labels in 2013. RFID in the form of tickets used for transit will demand 600 million tags in 2013. The tagging of animals (such as pigs, sheep and pets) is now substantial as it becomes a legal requirement in many more territories, with 375 million tags being used for this sector in 2013. This is happening in regions such as China and Australasia. In total, 5.9 billion tags will be sold in 2013 versus 4.8 billion in 2012. Most of that growth is from passive UHF RFID labels, with UHF tag sales overtaking HF and LF tag sales by volume in 2012. However, in 2013 UHF tag sales by value will only be 11% of the value of HF tag sales.


Total RFID Market Projections in US$ billions


RFID Market & Industry Analysis


This comprehensive report gives the complete picture covering passive RFID, battery assisted passive, active RFID, Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) and chipless RFID. It provides detailed forecasts and depth unmatched by any other.


Market analysis by a huge number of parameters


Using new, unique information researched globally by IDTechEx technical experts, we analyze the RFID market in many different ways. Full analysis by each market is given in great detail including in-depth historic data by application type from 2005 year by year to 2020 and with a 2024 outlook. For passive RFID, forecasts are provided separately for the following application areas. For each we provide the number of tags, average sales price and total value of tags.


Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications’ web site. View the report: RFID Forecasts, Players and Opportunities 2014-2024.


 



RFID Market & Industry Analysis

Monday, March 23, 2015

Semiconductor Packaging Materials Market Report

Semiconductor and IC Packaging materials are mainly developed to protect the electronic components such as semiconductors and ICs from external impact and corrosion.  A few types of IC  and semiconductor packaging materials are organic substrates, bonding wires, leadframes, and encapsulation resins. These materials are manufactured with several types of packaging technologies such as SP, GA, QFN, and DFN. The semiconductor and IC packaging materials market revenue was estimated to be $21 billion in 2013.

Due to the recent global economic downturn in 2008, the electronics packaging market witnessed a downfall of over 20%. The decreased market revenue is due to the gradual decrease in demand of gold bonding wires and also the fluctuations in currency exchange rates.


The IC and semiconductor packaging materials market is driven by the range of applications, which increases the R&D efforts to make electronic packaging materials highly resourceful, along with the huge demand from the electronic components industry due to increased population that finds electronic packaging materials useful in a myriad of applications. Growing advancements and technological inventions in semiconductor and IC packaging materials market would be quite effective in the future. Semiconductor and IC packaging materials have been well perceived in various dominant end-user markets in the last few decades, and are expected to be used for diverse applications in the future.


Globally, the Asia-Pacific region dominated the semiconductor and IC packaging materials market revenue in 2013. China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea are the major countries with emerging markets possessing a huge demand for electronic packaging materials. Asia-Pacific’s semiconductor and IC packaging materials market for end-user applications is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% from 2014 to 2019, which is far higher than that of North America.


Market players concentrate on expanding their geographical reach. Other development strategies adopted by the market players are new products launch, agreements & collaborations, and mergers & acquisitions.


The semiconductor packaging materials market is contemplating on executing high research activities to create new compounds to minimize costs and environmental hazards. One of the major problems is the price range that makes choosing the material very difficult and hard, so as to derive optimal cost effectiveness.


The report analyzes the market on the basis of material types, penetration of each electronic chemical and material in each major region, and end-user market. It also covers the market behavior of leading producers, key developments, and strategies implemented to sustain and succeed in the market.



Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications’ web site.  View the report: Semiconductor & IC Packaging Materials Market by Types, Packaging Technologies & Geography – Regional Trends & Forecast to 2019.



 


Semiconductor Packaging Materials Market Report


Partial List of Tables:


Table 1 Detailed Methodology For Market Size

Table 2 Data From Primary Sources

Table 3 Semiconductors & Ic Packaging Materials Market Opportunities, By Type

Table 4 Semiconductors & Ic Packaging Material Shipments, By Type (2010–2013)

Table 5 Semiconductors & Ic Packaging Materials Market Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 6 Organic Substrates: Market  Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 7 Bonding Wires: Market  Share, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 8 Leadframes: Market  Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 9 Encapsulation Resins: Market  Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 10 Ceramic Packages : Market  Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 11 Die Attach Materials: Market  Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 12 Thermal Interface Materials: Market  Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 13 Solder Balls: Market  Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 14 Others: Market  Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 15 Semiconductor & Ic Packaging Materials Market Revenue, By Packaging Technologies, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 16 Small Outline Package (SOP): Market  Revenue, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 17 Grid Array (GA) Market  Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 18 Quad Flat No-Leads (QFN) Package Market Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 19 Dual Flat No-Leads Package (DFN) Market  Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 20 Quad Flat Package (QFP) Market  Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)

Table 21 Dual In-Line Package (DIP) Market Size, By Type, 2012–2019 ($Million)


 



Semiconductor Packaging Materials Market Report

The Big Bang Theory Of Wearable Technology

The impending explosion of the wearable computing market is one of the most interesting and highly anticipated developments taking place in the high-tech industry.  According to a new study, Wearable Computing: Technologies, Applications and Global Markets, the $3 billion wearable consumer market is intrinsically linked with the $240+ billion smartphone market. The key market driver for wearable computing is the soaring global popularity of smartphones from manufacturers including Apple, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, HTC, Blackberry, Nokia and Microsoft.












The burgeoning field of wearable technology is hitting the mainstream and one of the highlights of high-tech wearable devices is that they are getting smaller, faster, cheaper, and more powerful with every new product. The computing power of an Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer or ENIAC a decade ago can now be easily fitted inside a chip in a musical greeting card. Similarly, the smartphones today are more powerful than the PCs used, say, five years ago. Now, all the capabilities of a smartphone like making calls, taking pictures, connecting to the internet, video chats, and so on, are being condensed into smartwatches—practically everything a phone or a tablet can do.


If the growing trend in the wearable computing industry is to be believed, the time may soon come when phones and tablets are a thing of the past. Google Glass is a perfect example. The product is still under development, but if everything goes as planned, consumers will soon have no need for their standard smartphone. Google Glass will be able to easily respond to verbal commands, augmented by the occasional manual interaction via controls located directly on the frame. There has even been talk about eventually including a laser-projected virtual keyboard for those times when voice just isn’t enough. With the ability to access countless sources of information in seconds and then relay them to a miniature screen situated in the upper corner of the wearer’s vision field, Google Glass makes 4G internet connectivity features seem archaic.


Motorola recently entered the ring with its Moto 360 smartwatch, which is primarily voice operated and can easily display messages and reminders on command. The result is a small, stylish accessory that serves as an assistant, calendar, and phone all at once and completely replaces the smartphone.


However, Apple’s stated entry into the smartwatch arena last week with a device that won’t go on sale until early 2015 raises questions: Can the company work its magic as it has in the past and convince people that they really need a smartwatch —or will this time be different? Referring to its much awaited product of the year, iWatch, Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a press release, “Apple introduced the world to several category-defining products, the Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. And once again Apple is poised to captivate the world with a revolutionary product that can enrich people’s lives. It’s the most personal product we’ve ever made.”


In fact, the “wearable category” covers almost everything from Fitbit’s $99 Flex fitness tracker and Nike’s $99 Fuelband fitness monitors to Samsung’s $199 Galaxy Gear smartwatch. In January 2014, Washington-based Innovega revealed its latest effort in introducing a wearable computer in the form of contact lenses at the CES trade show held in Las Vegas, USA—iOptik. Synchronizing its operations with the human eye, the iOptik uses its lenses to project an image of apps and information through the wearer’s pupil and onto the back of the retina. The lenses superimpose one upon the other to produce an image overlaid with information. The product is yet to be given approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA); however, the company plans to schedule further operations later this year or early next year.


Wearable computing concept is evolving to be even more personal, and not just for the benefit of the wearer. Expectant mothers, in the near future, will wear electronic “tattoos”—smartsensing stickers that will monitor fetal heart rate and brain waves, detect early signs of labor, and even notify the doctor directly when it’s time to go to the hospital.


Wearable computing devices have potential benefits for any situation where information or communication is desired, and the use of a hands-free interface is considered beneficial or essential. In addition to consumer products, many industry-specific applications in markets such as defense, healthcare, manufacturing and mining are also emerging.


The growth of the consumer market for wearables largely depends on how rapidly existing smartphone users will adopt wearable accessories and alternative devices. With new and improved innovation hitting the global market every day, only time will reveal whether wearables will ultimately replace smartphone technology in many consumer environments.


Learn more about wearable technology market and publications that provide informed perspective and relevant analysis of emergent technologies.


 













The Big Bang Theory Of Wearable Technology

Friday, March 20, 2015

Small Cell Backhaul Worldwide Market Analysis and Forecasts

ELECTRONICS.CA PUBLICATIONS announces the availability of a new report entitled “Small Cell Backhaul Market by Access Technology Generation, by Backhaul Technology – Worldwide Market Forecasts and Analysis 2014 – 2019″.   According to this report, the Small Cell Backhaul Market to grow from $587.5 million in 2014 to $2.08 billion in 2019, at a CAGR of 28.8% during the forecast period. In terms of regions, NA is expected to be the biggest market in terms of revenue contribution, while MEA and APAC are expected to experience increased market traction during the forecast period.


This study defines and segments the Small Cell Backhaul Market into various sub-segments with an in-depth analysis and forecasting of revenues. The report also identifies the factors driving this market, various challenges, and opportunities impacting it along with the technology roadmap and adoption trends.


This report broadly segments the Small Cell Backhaul Market on the basis of access technology generation, transmission medium, backhaul technology, services, and regions. The market is segmented by type of access technology generation: 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE; by type of transmission medium: wired and wireless; by type of backhaul technology: copper, fiber, millimeter wave, microwave, Sub-6 GHz, and satellite. The Small Cell Backhaul Market is also segmented by type of services: network services, integration services, and professional services; and by regions: North America (NA), Europe (EU),Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Latin America (LA).


Major forces driving this market are the rapid uptake of smart phones, increasing data traffic, deployment of small cell base stations, and the continuous up-gradations in communication network infrastructure technologies to provide innovative product offerings for flexibility, power efficiency, cost effectiveness, and deployment ease. As mobile operators consider deployment of small cells to complement the existing macrocells network infrastructure to enhance the coverage and capacity, they are strategically analyzing the small cell backhaul solutions. While operators look forward to availing customized and cost-effective solutions, the small cell backhaul solution providers are designing and developing agile solutions with robust capabilities to extend support for large deployments and offer an end-to-end solution to mobile operators. The small cell backhaul ecosystem players are consolidating their position in the highly competitive market through mergers and technology acquisitions, partnerships, to build good-for-all-requirements solutions and attain better market visibility.


The changing user behavior and capacity evolution, along with the inclusion of quality of experience attributes to quality of service are propelling the growth in the Small Cell Backhaul Market. Though the adoption of these solutions is gradual, due to concerns about total cost of ownership, small cell deployment location, trained labor, and spectrum availability, these solutions are destined to witness wide acceptance across the globe. The convenience of small form factor, street level coverage, increased capacity provisioning, and the support for efficient spectrum utilization that backhaul solutions provide is expected to bring more demand for these solutions. To serve an audience with different solution requirements, the small cell backhaul solution providers and their industry partners are understanding the small cell deployment scenarios to develop a range of solutions that suit the set of requirements encompassing network topology and architecture, coverage and capacity, and cost and power consumption. The amalgamation of backhaul solutions with the small cell network infrastructure will improve the spectrum utilization, enhance delivery of information and communication services, and enrich the user experience.


Small Cell Backhaul Market Report


Small Cell Backhaul WorldwideDetails of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications’ web site.  View the report: “Small Cell Backhaul Market by Access Technology Generation, by Backhaul Technology – Worldwide Market Forecasts and Analysis 2014 – 2019“.


 



Small Cell Backhaul Worldwide Market Analysis and Forecasts

The Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders

IC Insights Shows Big Changes to 2013 Top 20 Semi Supplier Ranking


SK Hynix, MediaTek, Micron, and Qualcomm each registered ≥30% year-over-year growth.


IC Insights’ April Update to The 2014 McClean Report will show a ranking of the 2013 top 50 semiconductor suppliers. A preview of the top 20 companies is listed in Figure 1.  The top 20 worldwide semiconductor (includes ICs and O-S-Ds—optoelectronics, discretes, and sensors) sales leaders for 2013 included nine suppliers headquartered in the U.S., three in Japan, three in Taiwan, three in Europe, and two in South Korea, a relatively broad representation of geographic regions.


The top 20 ranking also includes three pure-play foundries (TSMC, GlobalFoundries, and UMC) and five fabless companies.  It is interesting to note that the top four semiconductor suppliers all have different business models. Intel is essentially a pure-play IDM, Samsung a vertically integrated IC supplier, TSMC a pure-play foundry, and Qualcomm a fabless company.


IC foundries are included in the top 20 semiconductor supplier ranking because IC Insights has always viewed the ranking as a top supplier list, not as a marketshare ranking, and realizes that in some cases semiconductor sales are double counted.  With many of our clients being vendors to the semiconductor industry (supplying equipment, chemicals, gases, etc.), excluding large IC manufacturers like the foundries would leave significant “holes” in the list of top semiconductor suppliers.  Foundries and fabless companies are clearly identified in Figure 1.  In the April Update to The McClean Report, “marketshare” rankings of IC suppliers by product type are presented and foundries are excluded from these rankings.


It should be noted that not all foundry sales should be excluded when attempting to create marketshare data.  For example, although Samsung had a large amount of foundry sales last year, most of its sales were to Apple.  Apple does not re-sell these devices, so counting these foundry sales as Samsung semiconductor sales does not introduce double counting.


Overall, the list shown in Figure 1 is provided as a guideline to identify which companies are the leading semiconductor suppliers, whether they are IDMs, fabless companies, or foundries.


The Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders


leading semiconductor suppliers


Figure 1


Excluding the foundries of TSMC, GlobalFoundries, and UMC from the top 20 ranking would bring Fujitsu, Marvell, and Sharp into the 18th, 19th, and 20th positions, respectively (Figure 2).


 foundries of TSMC, GlobalFoundries, and UMC


Figure 2


There were numerous changes within the top 20 semiconductor supplier ranking in 2013 as compared to the top 20 ranking of 2012.  Spurred by its acquisition of Elpida last year, Micron climbed five spots and moved into the top 5 ranking.  Some of the other companies that rose in the 2013 ranking include SK Hynix, which, despite a significant fire and production setback at its largest memory fab in China, took full advantage of the 32% surge in the DRAM market last year and moved up two places into the 6th position.  Also, Broadcom moved into the top 10 while MediaTek jumped up six positions to 16th place and into the top 20 ranking for the first time.


MediaTek is experiencing extremely strong demand for its devices in the booming low-end smartphone business in China and other Asia-Pacific locations.  In fact, MediaTek’s application processor shipments for smartphones reached over 200 million units last year, about double the 108 million units the company shipped in 2012.  Moreover, with MediaTek and MStar expected to merge in 2014, the annual post-merger sales for MediaTek should be over $6 billion, most likely enough to lift the company into the 12th spot in the 2014 ranking.


Another company expected to make a significant move up in the ranking this year by way of acquisition is Avago. After the company’s purchase of LSI Corp., the combined semiconductor sales of the two companies is likely to be well over $5 billion this year, which could propel Avago from its 27th 2013 ranking to as high as 13th in 2014!


In contrast to the semiconductor companies moving up in the ranking, Fujitsu dropped five places to fall out of the top 20 ranking in 2013, going from being ranked 16th in 2012 to 21st last year (the company sold its analog and MCU business to Spansion in August of 2013).  Renesas was another “casualty” in the top 20 ranking and fell to 11th place last year from the 7th position it held in 2012.


In total, the top 20 semiconductor companies’ sales increased by 9% in 2013 as compared to 2012, which was more than twice the 4% growth rate for total worldwide semiconductor market last year!  It took total semiconductor sales of about $3.9 billion to make the top 20 ranking in 2013.


Figure 3 shows that there was a 97-percentage-point range of growth rates among the worldwide top 20 semiconductor suppliers in 2013 (from +82% for Micron to -15% for Sony).  The continued success of the fabless/foundry business model and the strong growth of the memory market (especially the 32% DRAM market surge) last year is evident when examining the six top 20 semiconductor suppliers that logged double-digit growth. As shown, the top six performers in 2013 included two memory companies (SK Hynix and Micron), two fabless companies (MediaTek and Qualcomm), and TSMC (the largest pure-play foundry).


Figure 3 shows that the two top 20 ranked companies that registered double-digit sales declines in 2013 are headquartered in Japan (Renesas and Sony).  As previously shown, Japan-based Fujitsu also registered a double-digit decline (-16%) in 2013 and dropped out of the top 20 ranking last year.  However, it should be noted that the conversion of Japanese company semiconductor sales from yen to U.S. dollars, at 97.6 yen per dollar in 2013 versus the 79.8 yen per dollar rate in 2012, had a significant impact on the sales figures for the Japanese companies.  Using a constant 2012 U.S. dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate for 2013, the 2013 semiconductor sales of Renesas, Sony, and Fujitsu, would have increased 5%, 4%, and 3%, respectively.


More details on the 2013 top 50 semiconductor suppliers will be provided in the April Update to The McClean Report.


Top Semiconductor Companies


Figure 3


For more information and ordering, view report details:  The 2014 McClean Report and 2014 O-S-D Report.


The McClean Report—A Complete Analysis and Forecast of the Integrated Circuit Industry features more than 400 tables and graphs in the main report alone.  A subscription to The McClean Report includes free monthly updates from March through November (including a 250+ page Mid-Year Report), and free access to subscriber-only webinars throughout the year.  An individual-user subscription to the 2014 edition of The McClean Report is priced at $3,490 and includes an Internet access password.  A multi-user worldwide corporate license is available for $6,490.


In a one-of-a-kind study, IC Insights expands its coverage of the semiconductor industry with detailed analysis of trends and growth rates in the optoelectronics, sensors/actuators, and discretes market segments in its newly revised 350-page O-S-D Report—A Market Analysis and Forecast for the Optoelectronics, Sensors/Actuators, and Discretes.


Now in its ninth annual edition, the 2014 O-S-D Report contains a detailed forecast of sales, unit shipments, and selling prices for more than 30 individual product types and categories through 2018. Also included is a review of technology trends for each of the segments.  The 2014 O-S-D Report, with more than 230 charts and figures, is attractively priced at $3,190 for an individual-user license and $6,290 for a multi-user corporate license.


 



The Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Passive Electronic Components: World Market Outlook: 2015-2020

This report was designed for end-users of passive electronic components who need to update their supply chain information for capacitors, resistors and inductors on an annual basis. This report was designed with input from major purchasers of passive electronic components and in direct response to industry needs. This report forecasts global consumption volume, value and pricing for CAPACITORS: Ceramic, Aluminum, Tantalum, DC Film and AC Film Capacitors; RESISTORS: Thick Film Chip, Network and Array; Nichrome Metal Film, Tin-Oxide, Wirewound, Thin Film, Carbon Film; INDUCTORS: Horizontal Wirewound Inductors; Wirewound Chip Coil inductors, ferrite beads and bead arrays; multilayered chip inductors, axial and radial leaded inductors, ferrite cores, thin film inductor chips. Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications" web site. View the report: Passive Electronic Components: World Market Outlook: 2015-2020.

Semiconductor Timing Revenues Under Increasing Pressure In CY2013 With Big Changes For The Supplier Base In Motion Now

ELECTRONICS.CA PUBLICATIONS, the electronics industry market research and knowledge network, announces the availability of latest market report and analysis series focused on semiconductor timing covering the results of CY2013 and forecasting through 2016.


The latest series of reports include: 


  1. Xtals and Oscillators, including quartz, SiMEMS, SAW, and All-Silicon Oscillator (ASO) based solutions;

  2. Semiconductor Clock and Timing, covering devices utilizing an external resonator, die sales to frequency suppliers, plus RF Timing solutions;

  3. Combined Semiconductor Timing, which is a combination of the Xtal and Oscillator and Semiconductor Clock and Timing reports;

  4. High End Semi Timing and RF Filters, covering Crystal based filters, PLL based Filters, and a focus upon High performance Timing solutions,

  5.  Clock and Timing Opportunities in Communications Infrastructure, a unique deep dive report specific to Communications Timing dubbed;

“This year’s report series is our best effort to date,” said Mark Sherwood, CS &A’s CEO and Principal Associate. “For this year, we have streamlined the report to focus upon specific application trends driving semiconductor timing overall, added an expanded section on RF and use and allocation of the current Spectrum, a very much expanded Supplier update, and more technology and product solution focus. Our unique top down and bottoms up methodology in reporting provides the best and most accurate view of the entire semiconductor timing MarketScape.”


The full spectrum of timing segments represented approximately $7 billion in sales in CY2013. With data over the last three years, we believe this to be a true plateau in revenue. Impacted by high levels of integration of the timing functions, and new creation of Macro Timing Solutions with high integration of key timing functions into a single chip point solution in Communications type Timing solutions, and where the embedded timing is making impact, especially in consumer applications where cost and size is king; the loss of a key timing category: PC specific timing; all combined with heavy competitive pressure on device $ASPs lead to declining revenue for the year despite increase in volumes.


The report shows that new technologies have made measurable penetration into this segment in CY2013 and will continue to do so in CY2014. SiMEMS suppliers have already been making their mark in the market, with companies such as SiTime, TXC, Vectron, Micrel, IDT, and Silicon Laboratories gaining market share with their MEMS based Oscillators and some new entrants on the horizon. Compensated CMOS (compensated LC and RC) solutions now look to gain share (SOM) from companies such as IDT, Si-Ware Systems, Silicon Laboratories, and eoSemi.


The reports provide a detailed and unique look at the full spectrum of the semiconductor timing market providing TAM, detailed consumption, and forecasts for all major product categories, plus supplier market shares. Coverage includes; Standalone Quartz, XO’s, TCXO’s, VCXO’s, OCXO;s, OCSO’s, Synthesizers, Frequency Generators, ZDB’s, NZDB Fan-out buffers, Integrated Timing solutions, Waveform Integrity (Jitter Attenuators), and many specialty Semiconductor Timing solutions are included in the report and analysis. CY2013 proved the fact that the industry plateaued in 2012, and revenues have fallen to ~$6.82 Billion USD in total across all segments and product categories despite increases in overall volumes. CS &A LLC separates the total timing market into three segments; Xtals and Oscillators, Semiconductor clock and Timing, and RF components and Modules. In CY2013, Xtals and Oscillators reflected ~$3.2B, Semi Clock & Timing in at ~$1.875B, and RF at ~$1.6B USD respectively.


The reports are offered in either a single user or enterprise license, where Enterprise clients will see a second half CY2014 update in January 2015 right after the CES in Las Vegas, plus up to four (4) hours of report related open consulting. Single user clients will see only the March release. Reports also include detailed databases that contain the raw data plus our entire forecast and market share data. Optionally these databases can be purchased separately from the full reports.


 



Semiconductor Timing Revenues Under Increasing Pressure In CY2013 With Big Changes For The Supplier Base In Motion Now

Worldwide Demand for Lighting Fixtures

Worldwide demand for lighting fixtures is projected to increase at a 7% annual rate through 2018 to $174.5 billion, improving upon growth that was recorded during the 2008-2013 period. Advances will be bolstered by industrialization efforts in developing nations. Specifically, locations that maintain significant and fast growing construction and motor vehicle production markets, such as India and China, will post the fastest gains in lighting fixture demand. In addition, the rebounding economies in much of the developed world will facilitate rising lighting fixture sales. Furthermore, the continued adoption of higher value lighting fixtures that are optimized for use with more efficient light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), will fuel demand.


China to account for largest share of new demand


In 2013, China comprised 24 percent of worldwide demand for lighting fixtures. China is expected to account for the largest share of additional global demand through 2018 with 37 percent of sales gains. The country will continue to experience robust growth because of its rapidly growing construction spending, including a number of large-scale lighting fixture retrofit projects, and its status as the world’s largest motor vehicle manufacturer. However, India will increase at the fastest rate, driven by the country’s continuing expansion of its electric grid, modernization of its building stock, and growth of the nation’s vehicle production industry.


Key US market to see above-average growth


The US, which was the second largest national market in 2013 with 18 percent of global sales, is projected to achieve above-average gains, even as the rest of the developed world posts more moderate growth rates. Advances in the US lighting fixture market are largely the result of an ongoing economic rebound. However, sales increases in much of Western Europe, and Japan and Australia will be slower, hampered by a long-running shift in vehicle production capacity away from these areas and a less robust recovery from a weakened economic climate. Still, lighting fixture sales in these areaswill benefit from a pickup in consumer spending levels and construction activity, even given their much more mature lighting fixture markets.


Nonportable lighting fixtures to offer best opportunities


Nonportable lighting fixtures will continue to account for the bulk of demand, and experience the strongest growth in sales through 2018. Indoor and outdoor nonportable lighting fixtures will record comparable rates of growth through 2018, benefiting from the strong gains in construction spending that is expected in much of the world. Advances for portable lighting fixtures will be more modest, partly because many of the newer light technologies fit most legacy portable fixtures so an upgrade is not necessary to get greater energy efficiency.


Construction to be fastest growing market


The construction market for lighting fixtures is expected to post the fastest growth in demand through 2018. This market — which includes hardwired fixtures as well as the separately sold parts and accessories — is also the biggest outlet for lighting fixtures. Specifically, residential construction applications will post the fastest gains, with sales in this market segment benefiting from the expected gains in household construction.


Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications’ web site. View the report: World Lighting Fixtures.


 


 



Worldwide Demand for Lighting Fixtures

Monday, March 16, 2015

The Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders

IC Insights Shows Big Changes to 2013 Top 20 Semi Supplier Ranking


SK Hynix, MediaTek, Micron, and Qualcomm each registered ≥30% year-over-year growth.


IC Insights’ April Update to The 2014 McClean Report will show a ranking of the 2013 top 50 semiconductor suppliers. A preview of the top 20 companies is listed in Figure 1.  The top 20 worldwide semiconductor (includes ICs and O-S-Ds—optoelectronics, discretes, and sensors) sales leaders for 2013 included nine suppliers headquartered in the U.S., three in Japan, three in Taiwan, three in Europe, and two in South Korea, a relatively broad representation of geographic regions.


The top 20 ranking also includes three pure-play foundries (TSMC, GlobalFoundries, and UMC) and five fabless companies.  It is interesting to note that the top four semiconductor suppliers all have different business models. Intel is essentially a pure-play IDM, Samsung a vertically integrated IC supplier, TSMC a pure-play foundry, and Qualcomm a fabless company.


IC foundries are included in the top 20 semiconductor supplier ranking because IC Insights has always viewed the ranking as a top supplier list, not as a marketshare ranking, and realizes that in some cases semiconductor sales are double counted.  With many of our clients being vendors to the semiconductor industry (supplying equipment, chemicals, gases, etc.), excluding large IC manufacturers like the foundries would leave significant “holes” in the list of top semiconductor suppliers.  Foundries and fabless companies are clearly identified in Figure 1.  In the April Update to The McClean Report, “marketshare” rankings of IC suppliers by product type are presented and foundries are excluded from these rankings.


It should be noted that not all foundry sales should be excluded when attempting to create marketshare data.  For example, although Samsung had a large amount of foundry sales last year, most of its sales were to Apple.  Apple does not re-sell these devices, so counting these foundry sales as Samsung semiconductor sales does not introduce double counting.


Overall, the list shown in Figure 1 is provided as a guideline to identify which companies are the leading semiconductor suppliers, whether they are IDMs, fabless companies, or foundries.


The Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders


leading semiconductor suppliers


Figure 1


Excluding the foundries of TSMC, GlobalFoundries, and UMC from the top 20 ranking would bring Fujitsu, Marvell, and Sharp into the 18th, 19th, and 20th positions, respectively (Figure 2).


 foundries of TSMC, GlobalFoundries, and UMC


Figure 2


There were numerous changes within the top 20 semiconductor supplier ranking in 2013 as compared to the top 20 ranking of 2012.  Spurred by its acquisition of Elpida last year, Micron climbed five spots and moved into the top 5 ranking.  Some of the other companies that rose in the 2013 ranking include SK Hynix, which, despite a significant fire and production setback at its largest memory fab in China, took full advantage of the 32% surge in the DRAM market last year and moved up two places into the 6th position.  Also, Broadcom moved into the top 10 while MediaTek jumped up six positions to 16th place and into the top 20 ranking for the first time.


MediaTek is experiencing extremely strong demand for its devices in the booming low-end smartphone business in China and other Asia-Pacific locations.  In fact, MediaTek’s application processor shipments for smartphones reached over 200 million units last year, about double the 108 million units the company shipped in 2012.  Moreover, with MediaTek and MStar expected to merge in 2014, the annual post-merger sales for MediaTek should be over $6 billion, most likely enough to lift the company into the 12th spot in the 2014 ranking.


Another company expected to make a significant move up in the ranking this year by way of acquisition is Avago. After the company’s purchase of LSI Corp., the combined semiconductor sales of the two companies is likely to be well over $5 billion this year, which could propel Avago from its 27th 2013 ranking to as high as 13th in 2014!


In contrast to the semiconductor companies moving up in the ranking, Fujitsu dropped five places to fall out of the top 20 ranking in 2013, going from being ranked 16th in 2012 to 21st last year (the company sold its analog and MCU business to Spansion in August of 2013).  Renesas was another “casualty” in the top 20 ranking and fell to 11th place last year from the 7th position it held in 2012.


In total, the top 20 semiconductor companies’ sales increased by 9% in 2013 as compared to 2012, which was more than twice the 4% growth rate for total worldwide semiconductor market last year!  It took total semiconductor sales of about $3.9 billion to make the top 20 ranking in 2013.


Figure 3 shows that there was a 97-percentage-point range of growth rates among the worldwide top 20 semiconductor suppliers in 2013 (from +82% for Micron to -15% for Sony).  The continued success of the fabless/foundry business model and the strong growth of the memory market (especially the 32% DRAM market surge) last year is evident when examining the six top 20 semiconductor suppliers that logged double-digit growth. As shown, the top six performers in 2013 included two memory companies (SK Hynix and Micron), two fabless companies (MediaTek and Qualcomm), and TSMC (the largest pure-play foundry).


Figure 3 shows that the two top 20 ranked companies that registered double-digit sales declines in 2013 are headquartered in Japan (Renesas and Sony).  As previously shown, Japan-based Fujitsu also registered a double-digit decline (-16%) in 2013 and dropped out of the top 20 ranking last year.  However, it should be noted that the conversion of Japanese company semiconductor sales from yen to U.S. dollars, at 97.6 yen per dollar in 2013 versus the 79.8 yen per dollar rate in 2012, had a significant impact on the sales figures for the Japanese companies.  Using a constant 2012 U.S. dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate for 2013, the 2013 semiconductor sales of Renesas, Sony, and Fujitsu, would have increased 5%, 4%, and 3%, respectively.


More details on the 2013 top 50 semiconductor suppliers will be provided in the April Update to The McClean Report.


Top Semiconductor Companies


Figure 3


For more information and ordering, view report details:  The 2014 McClean Report and 2014 O-S-D Report.


The McClean Report—A Complete Analysis and Forecast of the Integrated Circuit Industry features more than 400 tables and graphs in the main report alone.  A subscription to The McClean Report includes free monthly updates from March through November (including a 250+ page Mid-Year Report), and free access to subscriber-only webinars throughout the year.  An individual-user subscription to the 2014 edition of The McClean Report is priced at $3,490 and includes an Internet access password.  A multi-user worldwide corporate license is available for $6,490.


In a one-of-a-kind study, IC Insights expands its coverage of the semiconductor industry with detailed analysis of trends and growth rates in the optoelectronics, sensors/actuators, and discretes market segments in its newly revised 350-page O-S-D Report—A Market Analysis and Forecast for the Optoelectronics, Sensors/Actuators, and Discretes.


Now in its ninth annual edition, the 2014 O-S-D Report contains a detailed forecast of sales, unit shipments, and selling prices for more than 30 individual product types and categories through 2018. Also included is a review of technology trends for each of the segments.  The 2014 O-S-D Report, with more than 230 charts and figures, is attractively priced at $3,190 for an individual-user license and $6,290 for a multi-user corporate license.


 



The Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders

Home Audio Equipment Market Report

ELECTRONICS.CA PUBLICATIONS announces the availability of a comprehensive global report on Home Audio Equipment markets. Global market for Home Audio Equipment is projected to reach US$21 billion by 2020, driven by continued technological advancements, increasing consumer preference for high quality audio, and declining average unit prices of audio products.


Home Audio Equipment represents a huge market after television in the consumer electronics industry. Factors propelling growth in the industry include incessant developmental of innovative products with technologically advanced features and growing consumer preference for high quality audio products. Consumers are increasingly preferring audio systems with superior visual appearance, innovative features, and enhanced aesthetic design. Demand is on rise for portable audio equipment that integrate USB drives and have the capability to stream high-quality audio content from the Internet. Developments in digital technology in tandem with changing media options from traditional systems to contemporary systems such as speaker docks and soundbars for audio playback are also contributing towards market growth.


Device networking and streaming are emerging trends in the home audio market. The market for networked home audio devices is expected to surge during the analysis period, driven by networked speakers and dedicated speaker docks. Although networked devices represent a relatively small share in these markets at present, the coming years are forecast to witness strong growth. Another key trend in the market is the increasing demand for wireless systems that connect multiple devices wirelessly. The market for wireless devices is driven by growing customers’ penchant for unrestricted mobility, high quality sound, and appealing designs. The market is expected to gain from continuous decline in average unit prices of audio products, mainly due to improvements in production technologies that help reduce manufacturing costs.


As stated by the new market research report on Home Audio Equipment, the United States represents the single largest market worldwide. Growth in the market is led by technology developments, and increased consumer spending on audio components in tandem with rise in unit sales of flat-panel high definition televisions as a result of falling prices. Asia-Pacific is forecast to emerge as the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 4.9% in volume terms over the analysis period. Rapid economic growth, and increasing disposable incomes in most Asian countries are driving sales of home audio equipment in the region. Home radios represents the largest product market in volume terms, while Home Theater in a Box (HTiB) ranks the fastest growing market.


Major players covered in the report include Bose Corporation, Boston Acoustics, Creative Technologies Ltd., Harman International Industries Inc., LG Electronics, Koninklijke (“Royal”) Philips Electronics NV, Onkyo Corporation, Pioneer Corporation, Polk Audio, Samsung Group, Sonos, Inc., Sony Corporation and VOXX International Corporation among others.


The research report titled “Home Audio Equipment: A Global Strategic Business Report” provides a comprehensive review of market trends, drivers, and strategic industry activities of major companies worldwide. The report provides market estimates and projections in thousand units and million dollars for all major geographic markets including the US, Canada, Japan, Europe (France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, India and Rest of Asia Pacific), Middle East & Africa, and Latin America (Brazil and Rest of Latin America). The report also analyzes the global and regional markets for Home Audio Equipment by product segments such as Home Audio Systems, Home Audio Separate Components, Home Theater in a Box and Home Radios.


Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications’ web site. View the report: Home Audio Equipment: A Global Strategic Business Report.



Home Audio Equipment Market Report

Friday, March 13, 2015

The Global Printed Electronics Market Sector Witness Miniaturization

The miniaturization of electronic devices is an upcoming trend in the global electronics market, specifically in the category of printed electronics. The technological advancements which are the primary key drivers of miniaturization of electronic devices have led the market with their efficient developments resulting in more compact and flexible electronic devices.


In that case, printed electronics solutions are considered as the perfect solution for miniaturization in the industry. With the help of this technology, giant companies in the electronics industry can now develop multifarious devices varying in different sizes and materials. Printed devices are robust, efficient in performance – consuming low power, and moderately priced. As a result, worldwide manufacturers have been increasingly approving of printed electronics technology for their particular industrial products.


There are many companies that act as the major key players in the Global Printed Electronics industry, and they are namely NTERA Inc., T-Ink Inc., Novacentrix., and Conductive Inkjet Technology. Speaking of the major drivers in the industry, the increasing need for eco-friendly electronic products is another key driver in the domain of electronics. As printed electronic products use non-hazardous raw materials for producing different electronic devices, it becomes more suitable for the technology to get incorporated with other eco-friendly electronic products.


The Global Printed Electronics market is expected to revolutionize the industry by introducing innovative and low cost products that can be manufactured with traditional silicon-based electronics techniques. The drivers for global printed electronics market are low manufacturing cost and its applicability in variety of substrates. The global printed electronics market is expected to grow at an estimated CAGR of 38% from 2012 to 2018. In Printed electronics industry, screen printing captures maximum share owing to its wise deployment whereas most applications are available in printed photovoltaic (PV) due to the rising demand for alternative energy sources globally.


Learn more about printed electronics market and publications that provide informed perspective and relevant analysis of emergent technologies.



The Global Printed Electronics Market Sector Witness Miniaturization

Speciality Chemicals and Materials Will Reach Over $50 Billion in 2023

Speciality Chemicals needed for future electronics: morphologies, forms, derivatives: opportunities, trends, reasons: de-risk your investment!


According to a new study, speciality chemicals and  and materials will reach over $50 billion in 2023.  The chemistry of the new electronics and electrics is key to its future, whether it is invisible, tightly rollable, biodegradable, edible, employing the memristor logic of the human brain or possessing any other previously- impossible capability in a manufactured device. De-risking that material development is vital yet the information on which to base that has been unavailable. No more.


See how the metals aluminium, copper and silver are widely deployed, sometimes in mildly alloyed, nano, precursor, ink or other form. Understand the 12 basic compounds most widely used in the new electronics and electrics and compare them with compounds exhibiting the broadest range of appropriate electrical and optical functions for the future. Those seeking low volume, premium priced opportunities can learn of other broad opportunities. Indeed, we cover in detail all the key inorganic and organic compounds and carbon isomers. We show how the element silicon has a new and very different place beyond the silicon chip. Learn how the tailoring of a chosen, widely-applicable chemical can permit premium pricing and barriers to entry based on strong new intellectual property. For example, see which of 15 basic formulations are used in the anode or cathode of the re-invented lithium-ion batteries of 131 manufacturers and what comes next.


The chart below shows the breakdown of most popular inorganic compounds in new electronics including:


  • Aluminium compound

  • Boron compound

  • Copper compound

  • Gallium compound

  • Indium compound

  • Lithium compound

  • Manganese compound

  • Silicon compound

  • Titanium compound

  • Zinc compound

Speciality Chemicals and Materials

Most popular inorganic compounds in the new electronics by device family


For the full data set please purchase this report. Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications’ web site.  View the report: Functional Materials for Future Electronics: Metals, Inorganic & Organic Compounds, Graphene, CNT.


 


 



Speciality Chemicals and Materials Will Reach Over $50 Billion in 2023

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Is Silicon Wafer Pricing on Its Way Up Again?

The 2013 market for semiconductor silicon wafers totaled $7.5B, down 16% from 2012, according to a new report, Silicon Wafers for Semiconductor Device Processing 2014 – Critical Materials Report.” The 2014 outlook is for 1% growth to $7.7B. The silicon wafer market is expected to grow to $8.7B by 2015, according to Techcet Research Group. The current outlook is positive for 2H14 as compared with 1Q14, with growth anticipated in all wafer diameters and all major market segments.


Silicon Wafer Pricing Silicon Wafers for Semiconductor Device Processing


Silicon wafer purchases represent the highest operating expense for many device manufacturers and as a result are a constant target for price reduction. With the continued concentration of the semiconductor manufacturing base to a few large players, silicon producers have little choice but to succumb to the price pressure. As a result, ASP for wafers has declined steadily since 2011 with -14% and -16% in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Over the same period, the silicon market has experienced a steady increase in silicon area shipped at a CAGR of 3-6%. While overall silicon shipments have been relatively flat since the 2010 recovery, the change from quarter to quarter can exceed 10%. We anticipate this volatility to smooth as supply tightens with the growth expected in 2015.


For more information and purchasing, visit our Critical Materials Report on Silicon Wafers Market and Supply Chain.



Is Silicon Wafer Pricing on Its Way Up Again?

IPC-CH-65B Electronics Assembly & PCB Cleaning Guidelines

It’s well-known that residues on printed board assemblies can lead to serious reliability problems. Over the past several years the migration from the use of lead-bearing materials to lead-free materials has resulted in many changes in electronics manufacturing operations. Some of the residual materials that remain on the circuit card assembly are becoming increasingly more problematic to clean. Component densities and component under-clearances are creating new cleaning challenges. To help the process engineering community deal with these difficulties, IPC has released the B revision of IPC-CH-65, Guidelines for Cleaning of Printed Boards & Assemblies. 


With guidance from industry experts, the cleaning guidelines have been completely rewritten and address all facets of cleaning, including material selection, process considerations, equipment selection as well as the environmental impact of cleaning. The 200-page document not only brings cleaning requirements up to date, it also combines multiple documents into a single, comprehensive guideline. IPC-CH-65B explains the interactions between materials and processes and outlines the sources and types of contamination found on today’s circuit card assemblies.


The cleaning of printed boards and assemblies has undergone a significant transformation in two decades, due in large part to environmental regulations which are cross-referenced in the document. No-clean fluxes and lead-free solder are among the technical mainstays. “Years ago a large portion of the electronics industry moved from solvent-based cleaning to water-based cleaning. Over the past few years we have seen another shift to the use of lead-free materials and processes. The combination of these events led to the development of the new guideline,” explains Dave Torp, vice president of standards and technology at IPC. He adds that, with the shift to lead-free solder, “reflow temperatures increased, which has impacted the character of residues that remain on the assemblies.”


The update of IPC CH-65B was a huge undertaking that could not have been done without the help and expertise from a great many volunteers, IPC-CH-65B’s developers are continuing their work to expand the document’s focus to address cleaning for rework and repair.


IPC-CH-65B Electronics Assembly & PCB Cleaning Guidelines IPC-CH-65B


Details of the IPC-CH-65B, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications’ web site. Purchase and download  IPC-CH-65B PDF today.


 


 



IPC-CH-65B Electronics Assembly & PCB Cleaning Guidelines

Monday, March 9, 2015

Rigid PCB Industry Report: Global Top 40 Rigid PCB Companies by Revenue

2014 was a good year for majority of PCB companies, as output value of PCB industry touched USD59.6 billion, rising 3.7% against 2013, the fastest growth rate since 2011. Looking forward to 2015, a collapse in prices of commodities, especially in that of copper, will significantly reduce raw materials costs of PCB companies, thus further driving their profit margins.


In 2014, in key regions of PCB manufacturing, euro, NTD, and yen all depreciated sharply, while the won appreciated, dealing a heavy blow to South Korean PCB industry and cutting profit margins of the country’s PCB companies, which all suffered declines in revenue and profit margins, no exception for Samsung’s SEMCO, whose revenue from PCB business glided 2.4%, revenue from IC Carrier business dropped by 19%, and operating margin fell to below 1% from about 9%.


Global Top 40 Rigid PCB Companies by Revenue, 2012-2014 (USD mln)


Rigid PCB Industry Report


Taiwanese companies and European ones, benefiting from currency devaluation, saw a surge in profit margins, while Japanese peers didn’t gain from yen depreciation, as more than half of their production bases are located in foreign countries, but still performed better than South Korean counterparts.


HDI was still a main engine of growth in rigid PCB field in 2014, and is expected to maintain the momentum in 2015. As mobile phone screens become larger, PCB for mobile phone has to react accordingly. To ensure light weight and thinness of mobile phone, the demand for more advanced Anylayer HDI increases tremendously. As Anylayer HDI technology is time- and -capacity consuming, combined with Panasonic’s withdrawal from Anylayer HDI field, various PCB companies will expand Anylayer HDI capacity in 2015. In 2014, the company registered largest growth in revenue from HDI PCB business was Taiwanese Compeq, which boasts customers like Apple and Xiaomi with impressive performance, jumping by 28.3% to USD690 million, one step away from industry leader Unimicron.


Another spotlight in 2014 was PCB for server. With further penetration of internet economy, the coming of big data era, and influx of large amounts of capital into network economy, the demand for server ushers in explosive growth. PCB for server requires high Tg and low Loss, with layer growing more higher, up to 28, driving continuous increase in unit price of PCB for server since 2009. The companies that specialize in PCB for server, such as Taiwanese WUS Printed Circuit and ACCL, accomplished good results, with WUS Printed Circuit’s revenue ascending by 20% and ACCL’s 27%.


Regarding rigid PCB, LED lighting stimulated demand for metal PCB with good heat elimination performance. Taiwanese T.P.T, GIA TZOONG, and mainland Chinese Shenzhen Kinwong Electronic, which are skilled in metal PCB, all enjoyed a decent level of growth. In addition, PCB for automobile also did a good performance.


The most sensational event in PCB industry in 2014 was the merger of TTM and Viasystems. The combined company is absolutely No. 1 manufacturer with total revenue approximating USD2.5 billion. TTM enjoys a strong position in cellular phone and networking/telecom, and Viasystems in automotive and industrial fields, showing a perfect complementation.


Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications’ web site.  View the report: Global and China Rigid PCB Industry Report, 2015.



Rigid PCB Industry Report: Global Top 40 Rigid PCB Companies by Revenue

Semiconductor Wet Chemicals Industry Report

ELECTRONICS.CA PUBLICATIONS announces the availability of a new report entitled “Wet Chemicals for Semiconductor Device Processing 2014″. According to this report, the 2013 market for semiconductor wet chemicals (acids, bases and solvents) totaled $990M, up 2% over 2012. The 2014 outlook is for 4% additional growth to $1.03B. The semiconductor wet chemicals market is expected to grow to $1.29B by 2018. Current growth in wet chemicals revenue tracks the increase in wafer starts and further boosted by price increases driven by higher raw materials costs.


As <32nm nodes move toward volume production, there is a continuing trend toward the use of more dilute chemistries and smaller chemical volumes per process step. “Overall process cost reduction and a smaller environmental footprint combine to drive this trend”, said Lita Shon-Roy from Techcet Research Group . “The continuing shrinkage of device features is also driving the reinvestigation of alternative process technologies such as leading edge vapor cleaning technology using oxidants”.


The global market is distributed among seven major players with 5% share or greater, led by BASF and Kanto in the first tier. There are, however, vast differences in market leadership by region, with BASF leading in Europe, Taiwan and China, and Kanto leading in Singapore and Japan. KMG continues to expand its US market share dominance with its acquisition of OM Group’s Ultra Pure Chemicals business in June 2013.


The semiconductor wet chemical industry is vulnerable to several situations playing out in the general chemical industry as well as international politics. Semiconductor-grade nitric acid supplies were disrupted by a May 2012 explosion at El Dorado Chemical Company, and are not expected to fully recover until mid-2015. US shale oil production is providing some price escalation relief from Middle East petroleum supplies, providing relief in solvents and polyethylene products. New mining activity for phosphor and fluorspar around the world is starting to reduce dependence on China, providing some relief for hydrofluoric and phosphoric acid supplies.


In addition to market analysis, technical trends, critical supply chain issues and EH&S activities, the report includes profiles and updates for thirteen major chemical suppliers to the global semiconductor industry.


Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications’ web site.  View the report: Wet Chemicals for Semiconductor Device Processing 2014.


Semiconductor Wet Chemicals Semiconductor Wet Chemicals


 


 



Semiconductor Wet Chemicals Industry Report