Plasma Control Technologies

The Plasma Control Technologies division (PCT) is one of the world’s leading vendors of RF power products. Its strongest pillar is the business with high-end RF solutions for the fabrication of memory chips.

Slump in semiconductor market ­affected second half of year

In 2018, PCT witnessed a very dynamic, volatile trajectory in the semiconductor market. In the first six months, after several years of strong growth, the division recorded the highest sales in its history, yet from the middle of the year the weak demand for memory chips and short-term postponements of customer projects to equip fabrication plants led to an unexpectedly sharp slowdown in the market and a sales decrease of 28% in the second half of the year compared to the first half. On balance for the full year 2018, PCT’s sales therefore remained steady at the prior-year level. The downturn in the semiconductor market in Japan pushed sales in Asia 11% lower year-over-year. PCT did well with vacuum capacitors for the production of flat panel displays, increasing its sales by one-third from the year-ago period.

Anticipation, high flexibility, and invigorated power to innovate

Shifts in the product mix and important investments in projects of strategic significance for the future sharply reduced the EBITDA margin compared to last year. The negative effects of the cycle change in the semiconductor market in the second half of 2018 were cushioned through anticipation and PCT’s flexibility: The division rapidly adjusted its capacity and continued to drive lean initiatives forward.

PCT is the only manufacturer worldwide to develop and produce all core components of the RF power delivery system in-house. The modular, flexible and highly precise generators now under development are the cornerstone of the planned new RF system solution with which PCT intends to address a significant market from 2020. PCT’s work on the new platform in 2018 progressed on schedule. The Smart Lab, which is essential for automated test runs of the new generators, was also put into operation on plan and was presented to the first customers. PCT set the stage for future growth in the market for flat panels with the successful market launch of new vacuum capacitors, which have already been very well received by customers.