SEMICON EUROPA EXHIBITOR LIST

Geneva's last hurrah as host to Semicon Europa comes when the continent's economy is on an upswing. With storm clouds continuing to hover over much of Asia, the solid economic trends from the Old World are welcome news to those in the semiconductor equipment and materials industry. Double-digit increases in both capital spending and wafer-fab equipment purchases have been forecast, making Europe the best growth region in 1998. This year's show, set for March 31 through April 2 at the Palexpo, will feature more than 900 exhibitors in some 1600 booths as well as a full slate of technical programs and standards meetings. A special event on Monday, March 30, is SEMI's second all-industry forum, "Setting New Goals for Global Cooperation." The first such summit, held at Semicon Europa in 1994, helped pave the way for pan-industry cooperation on the transition to 300-mm wafers; strong programs dealing with environmental, health, and safety issues; and an increase in information sharing among global companies. SEMI hopes this year's forum will set the stage for similar cooperative ventures in the next millennium. Topics of other technical programs include productivity, trends in microlithography, CMP processing, flat panel manufacturing, MEMS strategies, and 300-mm challenges. Exhibitors and attendees will be envious of their spouses' trip on Wednesday to nearby Annecy, France, where a charming cobblestoned old town looks out over a spectacular Alpine lake. For those working the show, come by Booth 482 and meet the nous serons heureux de vous voir ACR Automation in Cleanroom —