The worldwide semiconductor industry sales will reach $200 billion by the year 2000. To reach this goal, fabs to build semiconductors are under construction worldwide.
The new equipment will be able to handle submicron geometry integrated circuits and larger 300 mm silicon wafers. Sophisticated equipment manufactures semiconductors ranging from power semiconductors for controlling motors to the latest microprocessor. These processes involve ultraclean environments with high precision equipment.
This is a multibillion dollar industry as new fabs are constructed and old fabs refurbished. The technologies involved range from vacuum deposition and etch systems to robotics.