““SEMICON Japan 2012″ (sponsored by SEMI) was held in Chiba Prefecture for three days from December 5 to 7, having a total of 67.5 thousand visitors up by 3.99 thousand from last year (22.75 thousand on the 1st day down by 650, top-ranked 23.290 thousand on 2nd day up by 5.04 thousand and 21.01 thousand on the 3rd day down by 400 from last year respectively) as announced by the sponsor.

The number of exhibits has substantially decreased because of no participation by the major industrial gas manufacturers like Taiyo Nissan, Iwatani and Air Liquide Japan (except for AWI) and the cancellation at the last minute by the major overseas equipment manufacturers like Applied Material.

It was our actual feeling as commented by the gas-related equipment manufacturers that most end-users of semiconductors did not take a look. As a matter of fact, however, Intel’s top executive for the development of the cutting-edge 450mm process and Samsung’s officer-level staff visited the exhibition. It told that the semiconductor manufacturers over the world are still keeping an eye on Japan despite the severe environment.

Although it seems that the conventional style of SEMICON playing the role of trade show roughly came to an end, the visitors who had attended the enriched seminars intended for enhancement of contents came to the exhibition site. In fact, the seminars titled “Power Semiconductors” and “450mm Production Technology” which the reporter attended were so popular that there were standing attendants. It impressed how high attention was drawn to the next-generation technologies.

As for the gas-related industries, it was distinct that there were proposals for streamlining of production with optimum services or systems to users and also for improvement of yields, instead of proposals for a gas-supplying system or a new specialty gas.”