Annual Report 2011 (5.07 MB, PDF-File) - Oerlikon

Business development
Oerlikon Advanced Technologies managed a challenging market
environment in 2011 with clearly improved profitability and
an EBIT margin of 10 % (previous year: 8 %). The semiconductor
market grew during the first half of the year, and the Segment
was able to capitalize on this growth through sales of innovative
advanced packaging solutions for areas such as the
production of mobile applications. Demand, however, weakened
sharply in the second half of the year. The market for
Blu-ray Disc production equipment and crystalline solar cells
was weak throughout the year. As a result, order intake fell by
32 % to CHF 88 million in 2011 (previous year: CHF 129 million).
Order backlog totaled CHF 8 million (previous year:
CHF 29 million). Sales fell by 16 % to CHF 108 million in 2011
(previous year: CHF 129 million). EBIT rose to CHF 11 million
(previous year: CHF 10 million). Operational improvements
helped increase the Segment’s profitability.
The Segment’s core technology is physical vapor deposition
(PVD). Leading customers in the semiconductor and nanotechnology
industries are helping Oerlikon Advanced Technologies
execute its growth strategies. With the CLUSTERLINE ® system,
Key topics
Innovation: At the semiconductor trade fair SEMICON Taiwan
2011, Oerlikon Advanced Technologies introduced the
HEXAGON, its latest solution for the advanced packaging of
semiconductor components. HEXAGON has a throughput two
to three times higher than comparable systems, a feature
which delivers significant production cost savings. The Segment
is now working with key customers to further test the
platform.
Outlook: modest rise in sales, continued margin pressure
In 2012, Oerlikon Advanced Technologies expects business to
continue under similar conditions. The solar technology market
is expected to remain challenging and demand for optical storage
media will continue to diminish, whereas the semiconductor
market still has growth potential. The Segment expects
modest sales increase under continuing margin pressure.
43
the Segment provides market-leading solutions for advanced
packaging, micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) production,
power semiconductors production, and light-emitting
diodes (LED) production. Oerlikon Advanced Technologies has
seen further market interest in new applications on the SOLARIS
system. This system is designed for the manufacture of the
latest-generation displays, thermoelectric generators and for
diverse applications in solid state lighting (OLED, LED). With the
market introduction of the HEXAGON, a solution for the
advanced packaging of semiconductor components featuring
significantly improved cost-efficiency and flexibility, the Segment
extended its technology leadership.
Once again, the growth regions of Asia made a significant
contribution to the sales generated by the Advanced Technologies
Segment. Of the Segment’s total sales, 45 % was generated
in Asia, compared with 47 % in the same period of the
previous year. The share of sales produced by the European
business rose from the previous year’s level of 24 % to 42 %,
driven primarily by growth in solid state lighting and power
semiconductors markets.
Cost reduction: Although the Segment’s major markets are
in Asia, throughout Europe and the United States, production
and supply are concentrated in Switzerland. As such, the
strength of the Swiss franc has created cost disadvantages.
Oerlikon Advanced Technologies is working to diversify its supply
portfolio.