NEWS RELEASE                                                                                           JUNE 2012

Semiconductor Industry to Spend $2.3 Billion This Year for Flow Control and Treatment Products

Semiconductor manufacturers will spend $2.3 billion in 2012 for flow control and treatment products. This includes products used to extract water from sources, purify it for use in chip washing and other purposes and to purify effluent prior to discharge. These totals are based on extracts from six McIlvaine market reports.

*Less the other items listed separately below

The water used in semiconductor processing needs to be extremely pure. Water from a river or even water already processed in a municipal drinking water plant must be subjected to a series of steps which often include granular media filters, cartridges, reverse osmosis, ion exchange and degasification. The water must be carefully monitored for a number of parameters. For example, dissolved oxygen must be measured and controlled at a few parts per billion.

The pumps and valves used in processing the ultrapure water are uniquely designed to minimize any contamination. This includes special materials of construction. The piping, tanks and other components of the ultrapure water system also have to be built to eliminate contamination.

One of the recent design changes is to reuse water where possible. Rinse water which was delivered to a tool but not used, can undergo less stringent treatment than water that was used as incoming plant water.

The semiconductor industry is growing at rates faster than GDP thanks in part to photovoltaic production as well as mobile communications. Asia is the largest producer. Its lead is forecast to grow. China is gaining on Korea, Taiwan and Japan as a major producer.

The demands for even more pure water are increasing as the line sizes on the chips are decreasing. This aspect coupled with the opportunity for water reuse are creating new opportunities.

For more information, click on the individual report information as shown at:

Air and Water Monitoring Markets: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/air.html#no31

Liquid Filtration and Media World Market: click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/water.html#n006

Cartridge Filters: World Market: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com//brochures/water.html#nO24

Pumps World Markets: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/water.html#N019

RO, UF, MF World Market: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/water.html#no20      

Sedimentation/Centrifugation World Markets: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/water.html#n005

Ultrapure Water World Markets: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/water.html#n029

Industrial Valves: World Markets: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/water.html#n028