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TAP TIMES -21- DECEMBER 2022

Test consumables (from 20) A wide range of factors appear to be in
play, but a step-change in board complex-
nually, says Yole Intelligence in its report, ity that impacts both design and manufac-
and the projection is for sales to grow at a turing costs seems to be the main driver.
CAGR of 14.7% over the next five years to
reach a value of $692 million by 2027. Long term
The demand is forecast to return to single-
Competitive landscape digit growth rates at the newly elevated

According to Lin Fu, Ph.D, principal ana- level over the long term.
lyst at Yole Intelligence, “The competitive
landscape for test sockets used in SLT4 is The major suppliers in this highly frag-
complex and mainly dominated by Advan- mented market are Teradyne, TSE, CHPT,
test, the leading Japanese company, fol- and R&D Altanova. yolegroup.com
lowed by Yamaichi and Winway.

Almost 22% of all test sockets
were for SLT applications in 2021,
growing to 35% by 2027.” The
demand for advanced PC boards
for semiconductor testing surged
unexpectedly in 2021.

Sales jump
This market typically grows at
low single-digit rates, so it was
a surprise to see a 21% jump
in sales.

Berkeley Advanced Light Source ok’d to begin $590M upgrade

BERKELEY, Calif. —The Advanced Light
Source (ALS), a scientific user facility
at the Department of Energy’s Law-
rence Berkeley National Laboratory
(Berkeley Lab), has received federal
approval to start construction on an
upgrade that will boost the brightness
of its X-ray beams at least 100x.

Scientists will use the upgraded ALS for
research spanning biology; chemistry; The ALS at LBL has gotten federal approval to start construction,
physics; and materials, energy, and en- a $590 million investment. (LBL)
vironmental sciences. The brighter, more small scale as reactions and processes take
laser-like light will help experts better place. These insights can have a huge array
understand what’s happening at extremely of applications. lbl.gov