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br> US Zyvex and French Arkema announced their intention to strengthen their strategic partnership by jointly developing commercial nanomaterials applications. Through a new licensing arrangement, Arkema will use Zyvex’s patented Kentera dispersion technology, in conjunction with its own Multi Wall Carbon Nanotubes (MWNTs). Arkema will also be the exclusive distributor in Europe of Zyvex’s NanoSolve supply range.

Arkema produces and distributes multiwalled nanotubes (MWNTs). Its production capabilities, opened at the beginning of 2006, currently enable Arkema to manufacture 10 tons per year of high-purity MWNTs at its Lacq site (France). With this new facility, Arkema is planning a commercial development to fulfill the expectations of converters in the thermoplastics, epoxy resins, elastomers and coating sectors. Progress is also expected in the field of energy in which the use of carbon nanotubes should help manufacture energy-efficient batteries, super-capacitors and fuel cells. Present in over 40 countries with 18,400 employees, Arkema achieves sales of 5.7 billion euros (2005).

LCD-TVs in three years will displace CRTs as the leading type of television manufactured worldwide, according to iSuppli. The research market company has boosted its 2006 forecast of shipments of LCD panels used in televisions to 46.7 million units, up from its previous prediction of 41.9 million units. LCD-TV panel shipments now are forecasted to rise by 74 percent compared to 2005.

LCD-TV panel shipments in the first quarter increased by 7 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2005, reaching 10.6 million units. LCDs accounted for 17 percent of television shipments in the first quarter, up from 15 percent in the fourth quarter, according to iSuppli. With its rate of adoption accelerating, LCD will become the leading display technology for television by 2009, accounting for 48 percent of factory shipments. The CRT’s share of the market will decline to 42 percent that year, marking the first time ever that CRT is not the leading technology for television display. By 2010, LCD will account for the majority of television shipments for the first time, with 56 percent of unit shipments, iSuppli predicts.

LG.Philips LCD held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new back-end module production plant in Wroclaw, Poland. The new plant is a result of an investment agreement LG.Philips LCD signed with the Polish government and Wroclaw's municipal government in September of last year.

LG.Philips LCD is the first global LCD panel maker to establish a production base in Europe. The Korean firm plans to start mass production at the plant in March of 2007 with an initial capacity of 3 million modules per year. The new plant will reach its design capacity of 11 million units per year by 2011.

According to DisplaySearch, Europe has emerged as the world's largest market for LCD TVs, with a 41% market share in 2005 (based on units), ahead of Japan and North America. DisplaySearch expects the European LCD TV market to record a compound annual growth rate of 29.6% per year from 2005, generating three-fold growth by 2009.

Separately, LG.Philips LCD has decided to reduce its worldwide production to address inventory concerns and better balance its short term supply with demand. The company recognize weaker seasonal demand during the second quarter, which has increased its inventory to about four weeks. The average selling price per square meter of glass at the end of the second quarter of 2006 is anticipated to decline by a mid-teen percentage quarter-end on quarter-end, says LG.Philips LCD.

Strategy Analytics' latest study, "Gallium Nitride Markets: Commercial Markets Drive Power Electronics," concludes that military and high power electronic applications will be the catalysts for the development of a Gallium Nitride (GaN) device market through to 2010. Commercial wireless infrastructure applications will also drive demand in the future and the study forecasts that the total market for GaN microelectronic devices will grow at a CAGR of 151 percent through 2010.

Some 17 chip makers are expected to join the $1 billion club in terms of semiconductor capital spending in 2006, according to market researcher Gartner. In total, capital spending is expected to hit $55.5 billion in 2006, up 17 percent over 2005, according to the firm. Wafer fab equipment is expected to jump 25 percent in 2006.

Market researcher IC Insights has also increased its semiconductor capital spending forecast for 2006. Worldwide capital spending is expected to hit $51.3 billion in 2006, up 12 percent over 2005. However on a quarter-by-quarter basis, capital spending is expected to decelerate. Capital spending is projected to grow 8 percent in Q1 to $11.7 billion, 7 percent in Q2 to $12.5 billion, 6 percent in Q3 to $13.3 billion and 4 percent in Q4 to $13.8 billion.

IC Insights does not change its overall semiconductor forecast, which calls for 8 to 10 percent growth in 2006. And according to Reuters, Gartner projected the IC industry to grow 10.6 percent in 2006 over 2005. Chip sales will grow 14 percent in 2008, before falling to less than 1 percent growth in 2009. Gartner analyst Jim Tully said 35 percent of existing chip makers — about 350 companies — will be driven out of business or acquired by larger rivals.

North American-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.65 billion in orders in May 2006 (three-month average basis) and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.12 according to SEMI. The three-month average of worldwide bookings in May 2006 was $1.65 billion. The bookings figure is three percent higher than the final April 2006 level of $1.60 billion and over 62 percent higher than the $1.02 billion in orders posted in May 2005. The three-month average of worldwide billings in May 2006 was $1.48 billion. The billings figure is about three percent above the final April 2006 level of $1.44 billion and over 22 percent above the May 2005 billings level of $1.21 billion.