Subject: Two million cleanroom employees by 2008

The employment in the world’s cleanroom industry reached one million people in 1999, but by 2001 had fallen below this level.  It is now again on the increase, and will reach two million by 2008.  These are the latest forecasts in the Cleanrooms: World Markets report published online by the McIlvaine Company.

By 2008 the clothing for these employees along with other cleanroom consumables will generate $3.9 billion of revenues for suppliers.  Sales of rooms to accommodate this expanding work force will rise to $4.5 billion in 2008.

One of the countries with the greatest growth in the 2000-2008 period will be Taiwan. Here are the projected revenues in the hardware sector.  This includes walls, filters, flooring, minienvironments, and HVAC.

Figure: viii

Cleanroom Hardware World Markets

COUNTRY FORECAST

Industry                     2000     2001   2002   2003   2004    2005    2006   2007 

Aerospace                           0.00          0.00         0.00         0.00       0.00       0.00         0.00       0.00

Bioclean                                  0.45          0.47         0.51         0.56         0.61        0.65           0.69         0.76

CR Suppliers                           5.51          5.13         5.13         6.35         7.73        9.43         11.47       13.96

Disk Drive                               0.97          0.88         0.88         1.05         1.23        1.44           1.67         1.94

Flat Panels                               7.20          8.85      12.51      18.58      27.82      41.96         62.60       93.39

Food                                         0.82          0.87         0.94         1.02         1.11        1.20           1.30         1.40

Hospital                                   0.38          0.43         0.45         0.52         0.59        0.65           0.74         0.82

Med. Devices                         0.31          0.35         0.41         0.47         0.53        0.62           0.71         0.82

Other Electronics                 20.54       16.96      16.46      20.47      24.60    28.24           33.32       39.30

Other Industries                     1.94        2.01           1.96         2.01         2.08        2.12           2.15         2.19

Pharmaceutical                       2.88          3.16         3.44         3.75         4.09        4.43           4.84         5.29 Semiconductor                     109.69         75.23       89.70      94.59    158.49  204.39          259.18     328.64

The semiconductor industry is leading the way.  Taiwan is now the leader in contract manufacturing of semiconductors.  It also is a growing force in the manufacture of flat panel displays.

Asia will experience greater growth than other regions over the next four years.  China is growing rapidly from a small base.  South Korea will also be a growth market.  McIlvaine forecasts an end to the revenue erosion in Japan, but there will not be growth as will be experienced in other Asian countries.

Over the next few years much of the cleanroom growth will come from the semiconductor industry.  Tightening supplies will trigger a new round of investment. Longer term the growth will come from an ever increasing number of applications from biotechnology to micro electro mechanical systems (Mems).

For more information on Cleanrooms: World Markets click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/cleanroom.html .

Bob McIlvaine

847-784-0012

Web Site: www.mcilvainecompany.com