Cleanroom Market Expected to Grow to $9.1B by 2006
Maria A. Lester, Associate Editor -- Semiconductor International, 4/1/2003
Despite the decline in the semiconductor
industry cleanroom market, sales of cleanroom hardware and consumables are
forecast to reach $9.1B by 2006 compared with $6.5B in 2000, according to the
"Cleanrooms: World Markets" report published by the McIlvaine Co. (Northfield, Ill.). The report credits the market growth to the pharmaceutical and biotech, flat-panel and food industries — together offsetting the weakness in the semiconductor market.
According to the report, the 2000-2006 annual growth will be 6% in hardware sales and 5% in consumable sales. The semiconductor industry, which accounted for half the sales in 2000, will account for 42% of world sales in 2006. The flat-panel industry will grow at a compound rate of more than 12% per year during the period, with most of this growth occurring in Asia.
The market for consumables (clothing, wipes, furniture, laundry services, etc.) grew in 2002, although less than had been previously forecast. McIlvaine is now reporting an actual consumables market of $3.31B worldwide compared with its forecast of $3.39B. Future years have been adjusted downward, with a significant change projected for 2005 — $4.65B vs. the previous forecast of $5.19B. The adjustment was attributed to the softer semiconductor sector.
On a more positive note, the capital equipment market (rooms, walls, ceilings, HVAC, filters, lighting, etc.) grew more than previously forecast, although the weakness in the semiconductor market was again noted. The 2002 forecast of $2.09B for the capital equipment market has been revised to $2.36B.
Room orders, which were $1.17B in 2000, dropped to $726M in 2001. 2002 has now been adjusted to $705M and 2003 is projected at $820M. McIlvaine is now projecting a room market of $3.9B in 2006 rather than the $2.99B forecast earlier. In turn, 2004 room sales are expected to surpass the previous high set in 2000. However, the report noted that the semiconductor industry is not expected to reach the 2000 level again until 2006.
Which suppliers benefit from this type of growth? The report suggests that those with an emphasis in sterility and microbial control will continue to experience rapidly growing markets. Those that focus on particulate and inanimate contaminants will experience slower growth through 2006. The report states that, after 2006, the potential seen in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), wireless communication and nanotechnology could result in growth in the particulate and inanimate segments.
For additional information on clean processing, go to www.semiconductor.net/clean
