Bookings ($ millions) (Three-month avg.)	Billings ($ millions) (Three-month avg.)	Book-to-Bill Ratio
August 2005 (prelim.)	$1,115.4	$1,065.9	1.05
July 2005	$1,007.3	$1,078.2	0.93
June 2005	$1,038.0	$1,152.2	0.90
May 2005	$1,015.3	$1,213.0	0.84
April 2005	$998.8	$1,239.2	0.81

Source: The Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International, Sept. 20, 2005

Chip Equipment Sales Surge

In August, orders for semiconductor manufacturing equipment reached parity with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.05 for the first time in a year. That figure means that $105 worth of orders came in for every $100 worth of product billed for the month of August. The surge in orders was led by a boost in demand for test and assembly equipment. Wafer-processing equipment has yet to see the same increase in demand. Still, it's good news for the chip equipment sector, which has been in slowdown over the last year.

Posted: 10/12/05

Also see:

Brooks Automation Humming Along