Despite the overall climate, chipmakers seem to be requipping for what they hope will be the next boom – Palo Alto, California-based Varian Associates Inc reports that orders for semiconductor equipment for October and November, the first two months of its first quarter, were over $130m, up from the previous high for an entire quarter of $103m, set in the first quarter of fiscal 1989 – Long-planned expansions in such countries as Korea and Taiwan are now getting their final approvals and releasing orders for new equipment almost simultaneously, the company said, adding that demand is also very strong in North America, with even Europe growing too, but at a slower rate.
Content from our partners
