March Semiconductor Market Update from Future Horizons
As an agency that works with some of the leading companies within the technology industry, it is important that we stay up-to-date on the industry, including trends and the outlook of technology markets. So, we were excited to have the opportunity to share an extract of Future Horizons March report on the semiconductor market:
Executive Overview
IC ASPs continued to drive the recovery, up 34.7 percent vs. January 2023. They were also up 7.6 percent vs. December 2023, which was untypical for the first month of the quarter.
At the same time, IC unit sales fell 13.9 percent vs. December 2023, again unusual for the first month of the quarter, and were also down 10.4 percent vs. January 2023.
With IC unit demand still in decline, the current furor over the supposed chip market ‘recovery’ needs to be treated with extreme caution bordering on the irrational.
Market Update
January saw IC ASPs rebound from December’s dramatic downward correction, continuing their now eight-month long recovery climb, up 7.6 percent vs. December 2023.
At the same time, IC unit shipments were 27.1 percent lower than the May 2022 8.2 billion maxed-out capacity peak and 16.4 percent lower than the overall long-term trend line, a marked deterioration over last month’s 3.9 percent number.
This is the first time since records began that ASPs have led a market recovery. In the normal course of events, unit growth recovers first, with ASPs following ‘one-year later’. There is no obvious underlying reason for this behaviour, quite the opposite, it flies in the face of fundamental economic supply and demand pricing theory.
Either it will prove to be a curious quirk of statistics or a fundamental, but as yet undetermined, radical shift in market behaviour. Our bet is firmly on the former not the latter, especially given the overall global economic uncertainty.
Hopes that the US Federal Reserve would start dropping interest rates towards the end of March were dashed when the most recent inflation data rose at its fastest pace in almost a year, signaling a still bumpy road ahead against a robust labour market, strong growth and a resilient American consumer background.
So far, central banks have managed to successfully walk the fine line between pushing up interest rates to bring down inflation but not to the point of triggering a recession. The chances of a soft landing for the global economy are still strong but the overall economic outlook remains decidedly weak.
As one of the most respected semiconductor industry analysts across the globe, Future Horizons report provides some excellent insight into what’s currently happening in the semiconductor market. To find out how to access the full report, please click here.
Future Horizons will be hosting a spring update webinar on May 7th 2024. For more information and to review previous webinars, click here.
For any further details, please reach out to the Future Horizons team.
WEKA Fachmedien Official Media Partner of embedded world
WEKA Fachmedien has announced that they are once again the official media partner of embedded world.
Taking place from April 9th-11th in Nuremberg Germany, the show will host a range of experts, professionals, and companies from the embedded industry.
As media partner, WEKA Fachmedien will provide daily analysis and coverage, publishing the official daily embedded world newspaper throughout the event.
The media house will also host the 17th Media Summit, taking place on April 9th, at 2 pm in room Seoul, NCC East. The speakers, Prof. Matthias Spörrle and Matthäus Hose, will undertake a lecture, presenting their analysis of our accelerated age.
The 22nd edition of the embedded world Conference will take place throughout the show. This features 243 presentations, 17 classes and two keynotes covering all aspects of the development and application of embedded systems.
On the second and third day of the show, the Electronics Displays Conference will take place. Designed for experts and luminaries within the display industry, the programme will consist of eight keynotes that will highlight current industry trends.
As always, embedded world is not a show to be missed, and we're looking forward to attending the event in April to hear the latest insights and trends from the industry.
EEPower Introduces First EEPower Day
This May, EETech will run its first-ever annual EEPower Day, a conference designed for power engineers. Taking place on May 2nd, EEPower Day is a one-day virtual conference, with unique content being published throughout the week of the event.
Coverage will feature innovative news updates, and educational and technical content aligning with EEPower's theme: Powering the Energy Transition.
With over 11,000 planned attendees, the event will offer a unique opportunity for companies to increase awareness via virtual booths, and generate leads from live webinar sessions.
Here at Napier, we love to see new events take place within the industry. With the conference using a similar format to Industry Tech Days, we are sure this will be a successful and valuable event for the industry.
For more information on the event and how you can get involved, please get in touch.
Alfred Vollmer: Editor in Chief and Freelancer for Bodo's Power System
Alfred Vollmer, a well-known and respected journalist within the industry, has announced his new role as Editor-in-Chief at Bodo's Power Systems.
Alfred will be responsible for all main editorial elements, supported closely by Bodo, as well as Holger Moscheik who will focus on all other activities outside the pure editorial responsibilities.
Alfred's current introductory editorial is only available to read on Bodo's Power until the end of February, which will then be followed by his next editorial on the 1st March.
In addition to his new position, from the 1st of March, Alfred will also be available for new freelance work following a six-month break.
We wish Alfred all the best in his new role!
PowerUP 2024: Aspencore and Tecno's New Partnership
AspenCore and Tecno, have announced their partnership as organisers for the PowerUP and Fortronic Conference and Exhibition, which will take place this September in Milan.
As a two-day event, the conference will take place on September 18th and 19th 2024 at the NH Milano Congress Centre. Those who cannot attend in person will have the opportunity to experience the two-day conference and exhibition virtually on October 9th and 10th 2024.
Aiming for an immersive experience, the conference will explore pivotal themes within the industry. This will include topics such as power semiconductors, power management, sensors, converters, and tools for test and measurement.
The conference will provide keynote sessions by global industry leaders, panel discussions and technical presentations on emerging tools and measurement technology, and the opportunity to delve into discussions like reducing carbon footprints through innovative materials. Visitors will also have the opportunity to network with peers and industry professionals from across the globe.
Each day will follow a key theme with day one focusing on ' Power Electronics design - developments, applications and the future' and day two covering 'Power conversion for energy transition.'
“We are proud to start this collaboration, which brings an international scope to Fortronic,” said Elena Baronchelli, general manager of Tecno. “We are confident that this is just the first step toward a successful partnership with AspenCore.”
Vice president and publisher of AspenCore, Cyrus Krohn, added “We are excited about our further expansion into Europe through our partnership with Tecno. We’re looking forward to using the power of our combined networks to bring about new ideas and long-lasting value to the market.”
It is great to see AspenCore and Tecno working together to build an event that will educate and inform the industry. We're looking forward to seeing the fantastic insights that will be revealed at the show, and hearing what we are sure will be great feedback from the industry.
For comprehensive logistical details and agenda information, visit powerup.fortronic.it and www.powerup-expo.com.
Electronic Specifier: Introducing Procurement Pro
Electronic Specifier has officially launched the first issue of Procurement Pro. The new magazine will highlight the elaborate and fast-paced reality of the procurement industry.
Launched as a subsidiary of Electronic Specifier, Procurement Pro aims to be one of the ‘go-to’ guides for industry professionals.
The electronics component market faces many challenges, including evolving technological requirements, geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and many more. These all require a new approach from procurement specialists and the new publication offers solutions to these challenges through content which communicates expert insights, analysis and leadership perspectives. The publication covers a range of topics from global market trends and procurement technology innovations to supply chain management best practices.
Procurement pro will be issued on a quarterly basis and will include future topics like Environmental Sustainability, Regulation, Supply Chain Management, Risk Management and Obsolete Parts.
Here at Napier, we were excited to see the first-ever Procurement Pro launched and look forward to seeing the future success of the publication unfold.
ELEKTRONIKPRAXIS Announces New Editorial Trainee
ELEKTRONIKPRAXIS has welcomed a new trainee to their editorial team. Michael Richter took up his trainee role at the publication this month after graduating with a Communications Engineering degree. Michael was previously a simulation engineer at the Bose Group.
In his new role at ELEKTRONIKPRAXIS, Michael will be focusing on the editorial topics of power electronics and drive technology.
Congratulations to Michael on his new role!
Power Systems Design Celebrates 20 Years
Congratulations to Power Systems Design (PSD) which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
As one of the leading independent publishers and content developers for the global power electronics community, PSD has built a global community of over 150,000 engineers in power, providing invaluable resources and knowledge for the past two decades.
Congratulations to PSD, we can’t wait to see what you do in the next 20 years!
Elektor Acquires European Business Press
Elektor International Media BV (Elektor) has announced the acquisition of the European Business Press (EBP), a leading publisher in the B2B electronics sector for Europe. Titles such as eeNews Europe and ECI Electronique will now sit under the Elektor media house.
Both EBP and Elektor will continue to work individually with their current teams, promising to maintain business continuity alongside growth and collaboration. With offices in Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands, the expansion of the organisation will be led by Managing Director of Elektor, Erik Jansen.
The merge will also see the accession of Jansen to the Publisher of eeNews Europe. He will be taking over from Andre Rousselot following his retirement after 42 years in publishing. Andre will assist as a consultant throughout 2024 to support a smooth transition.
Jansen commented: "We are excited to welcome EBP into the Elektor family. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our strategy to broaden our reach in the B2B electronics publishing market."
EBP's existing global sales organization will remain in place, and the acquisition will focus on maximising mutual strengths, focusing on opportunities such as traffic and database growth.
The acquisition reinforces Elektor's strategy to gradually expand its influence and expertise in the global electronics publishing sector. It's clear to see that this will be a positive move for the industry, with the combination of two fantastic editorial teams. We look forward to seeing the development of EBP under Elektor, and the approach they take together moving into the future.
For more information about Elektor and EBP, click here.
Christmas Charity Donations From Napier
For the last few Christmases, Napier has made charitable donations rather than sending client gifts. From a select three, we invite our clients to vote for their favourite charity, of which we then distribute our donations in proportion to the votes for each charity.
So we were delighted to once again make our charity donations for Christmas in 2023, donating 41.5% of our pot to Médecins Sans Frontières, 21% to St. Wilfred’s Hospice and 12.5% to WWF.
We’d like to thank all our clients who took the time to vote and contribute to Napier’s decision.
Flash Memory Summit Announces Rebrand
Flash Memory Summit (FMS) has rebranded to reflect the ever-evolving landscape of memory and storage technologies. Relaunching as FMS: the Future of Memory and Storage, the change marks a recognition that the memory and storage industry is rapidly changing beyond traditional flash memory.
Driven by emerging advancements like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance computing, the memory and storage industry is undergoing rapid changes which has fuelled FMS's decision to rebrand.
The rebrand will change several elements of the event, including the conference and exhibition, which will cover a broad spectrum of storage applications, embracing not only flash memory but also emerging memory technologies that play a crucial role in the storage ecosystem.
Attendees can also expect to see enhanced networking opportunities and to view the latest products and solutions in memory and storage, with insights into future trends and technological breakthroughs.
CEO Kat Pate, said: “We are pleased to make it official by rebranding the event. We know this change will bring continued growth for FMS, and we look forward to welcoming new companies.”
The FMS: the Future of Memory and Storage event is due to take place on August 6-8th 2024.
We look forward to seeing the event take place under the new rebranding, and the great feedback we are sure it will receive from the industry.
Budapest Olympic Centre to Host InnoElectro 2024
This year, the publisher of ELEKTRONET will organise InnoElectro 2024 alongside the National Electronics Society of Hungary. The event will take place at the Olympic Centre in Budapest, on the 23rd-25th April 2024.
InnoElectro provides a platform for professionals involved in creating and manufacturing electronics-based solutions, from design houses to manufacturers and distributors, to discuss their knowledge, network and browse new partnership opportunities.
The event will host the IoT Live Show this year, as well as run the SMTA conference as part of the three-day event.
For the second consecutive year, the event will award the InnoElectro Grand Prize in recognition of the best products and electronic solutions presented at the show. Exhibitors and sponsors of the event can put forward their nominations.
We look forward to hearing about InnoElectro this year and the great insights from the industry.
Next Mobility and ELEKTRONIKPRAXIS Announce New Editor
Next Mobility and ELEKTRONIKPRAXIS has welcomed Stefanie Eckardt as its new Editor.
Stefanie is no stranger to the industry, and is an extremely experienced editor in the Automotive sector, having previously been Editor-in-Chief at Hanser Automotive for three years. Before this, she was also at WEKA for nine years, working on the Elektronik Automotive publication.
Congratulations to Stefanie on her new role!
New Semiconductor Publication To Launch Q1 2024
A new semiconductor magazine has been announced for 2024, titled Global Fabs. Due to launch in Q1 of this year, Global Fabs will be a new global semiconductor manufacturing website and digi-magazine.
The new publication will act as a dedicated source for information on semiconductor fabrication, providing the latest news, market developments, as well as technology and policy updates in the European Union, the USA and worldwide.
Here at Napier, we always love to see the development of a new publication available to the industry. With it focused on the semiconductor sector specifically, the publication is sure to cover some interesting stories. We look forward to the launch and reading the first copy very soon.
The Engineering Network Welcomes Industry Expert Sidney Hamilton-Williams
Industry sales expert, Sidney Hamilton-Williams, has joined the team at The Engineering Network (TEN) as Portfolio and Events Manager. Her new role will cover TEN's FoodManufacturing.Live specialist event, and its associated website FoodManufacturing.net.
With Sidney having previously worked at Western Business Publishing, TEN's Managing Director Luke Webster commented that Sidney "brings with her talents and skills that have been well recognised across the industrial publishing and events sector for many years, and is already acquainted with many of the industry leaders selling into the UK food manufacturing sector."
Congratulations to Sidney on joining the TEN team! We wish you all the best in your new role and look forward to working with you.
Forbes B2B Marketing Group Named Best New Group
At Napier, it's no secret that we are passionate about learning and sharing knowledge, especially within the B2B marketing landscape. We are always looking for different ways to contribute to communities, as we see the immense value these communities bring by members supporting each other in the sharing and building of knowledge across multiple B2B sectors.
This is why we were delighted to learn that the Forbes B2B marketing group has received the 2023 Q3 and Q4 Member Leader Award. Led by Napier's very own Managing Director, Mike has grown the community, with a focus on sharing his knowledge about the B2B marketing landscape and encouraging members to participate.
Congratulations to Mike and all those in the group, and good luck for the next round of the Member Leader Awards!
Partnership Expansion: Messe München And SEMI Strengthen Electronics Network In India
Messe München's electronics network, which encompasses top-tier trade fairs like electronica and productrionica, is strengthening ties with SEMI, the global semiconductor association in India.
The agreement, signed during productronica and SEMICON Europa 2023 in Munich, supports the Indian government's initiative to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem in India.
Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, CEO of Messe München commented "The Indian market is becoming more and more important for global manufacturers who want to further diversify their supply chains. I am therefore all the more pleased that we are expanding our successful cooperation with the global industry association SEMI, which already successfully organizes SEMICON Europa in parallel with electronica and productronica in Munich, to include SEMICON India. This is the logical consequence of our strategic partnership."
SEMICON India will be running alongside productronica India and electronica India from September 18th-20th 2024, making it the largest meeting place for ideas and innovation in the electronics industry in Southeast Asia.
It's always fantastic to see the reach of the electronics industry continuing to grow globally, and we look forward to seeing the innovation and growth this collaboration will bring.
Electronic Product Design & Test To Launch New Showcase
Electronic Product Design & Test is launching an annual Products of the Year showcase, which will see the most notable product highlights from the previous 12 months featured in the magazine.
The first showcase will be featured in the December 2023 issue and will cover the top 20 products of 2023, which will span from digital ICs, communication chips, interconnects, board level hardware, power devices, electro-mechanical components, optoelectronic devices, and test instrumentation.
Selections for Products of the Year are based on key criteria, including the disruption the products have caused to the existing market, the ability they have to open new market opportunities and the positive impact they have provided society.
It’s great to see Electronic Design Product and Test celebrating products from across the sector, and we look forward to seeing what will feature in the first showcase this December.
Electronic Specifier First Women in Technology and Engineering Event a Huge Success
On November 2nd, 2023, Electronic Specifier hosted its first Women in Technology and Engineering event. The evening, which offered attendees networking opportunities and valuable discussions, was a testament to those attending and nominated.
The event was led with a keynote by Ama Frimpong, the Head of Development at 52 North Health. She discussed professional resilience and personal fulfilment in the face of career challenges. Additionally, a panel was curated by Paige West, the editor of Electronic Specifier. The panel, which included tech leaders from diverse sectors, reflected the call for a more inclusive, diverse and versatile industry.
Paige West said: "It was a powerful gathering of shared aspirations and grounded expertise. We’ve ignited a dialogue that not only reflects the current state of women in tech but also paves the way for a more inclusive future. This is just the start, and we look forward to growing this community through our content and future events."
Electronic Specifier has also recently promoted a Data Science student, Beth Floyd to the position of Marketing Associate. In her new role, Beth will be the main point of contact for manufacturers who wish to be listed on EDS and EDI.
Here at Napier, it is great to see a fantastic celebration take place for Women in Technology and Engineering and we look forward to seeing future changes towards inclusivity in STEM.
Smart Cities Electronics Launches New Magazine
Currently just a website, Smart Cities Electronics is introducing an e-magazine, with the first issue due to go live in February/March 2024.
Published bi-monthly, the magazine will feature expert analyses, articles and product highlights, as well as providing a comprehensive overview of the path between electronics and smart city innovation.
Topics will focus on understanding the latest trends, breakthroughs and challenges around smart cities.
It's great to see a publication like Smart Cities continuing to grow and expanding its reach via an e-magazine. We look forward to reading the content featured in the magazines, and the positive impact this will have on the industry.
Happy 10th Birthday Vehicle Electronics!
Congratulations to Vehicle Electronics which celebrates its 10th anniversary with its 2023 December publication, marking the 120th issue of the magazine.
Since its formation 10 years ago, Vehicle Electronics has developed a circulation above 12,000 and has gained a global readership, including countries like the USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Taiwan, and China.
Congratulations to Vehicle Electronics on 10 years, and we wish you continued success for the future.
Bodo’s Power Systems Returns with the Wide Bandgap Event in December 2023
Bodo’s Power Systems ‘Wide Bandgap Event’ will be taking place in Munich from the 12th to the 13th of December 2023. It will bring together innovators and industry experts from all around the globe to discuss the potential of wide bandgap power semiconductors.
The two-day event will kick off with a keynote session alongside a roundtable, followed by an opportunity for attendees to network and learn from other professionals within the industry.
The second day will contain two parallel tracks, one for SiC and one for GaN. The event will also feature a tabletop exhibition in the foyer, where visitors can get up-to-date information and learn about the latest products and services.
It's great to see Bodo continuing to provide such a fantastic event on wide bandgap power semiconductors, and we looking forward to hearing what we are sure will be positive feedback from the industry.
Electronics Weekly Launches New Women in Electronics Award
Electronics Weekly has announced a new award for 2024, which will focus on celebrating and highlighting the achievements of women within the electronics industry.
The Women in Electronics Awards will take place on April 23rd 2024 and will recognise notable achievements of women across the industry from education, research and design excellence, as well as women entrepreneurs and innovators who are advancing technology.
There are 18 different categories to enter including: Women of the Year, Innovator of the Year and the Life Time Achievement Award.
The nomination process is free, and open until 29th November 2023.
It's great to see an event dedicated to supporting the fantastic work women achieve within the electronics industry, as well as providing companies, and professionals the opportunity to support and nominate their peers. We look forward to seeing the shortlisted nominations, and the celebrations which will take place.
For more information on the awards and how you can nominate, please click here.
Media Sales Veteran Joins Team at TalkingIoT
TalkingIoT has recently taken on a new North America Sales Representative, Bob Dumas. Having started the role on November 1st, Bob Dumas is a long-time media sales veteran.
With a career which has spanned over three decades, Bob is well-known in the industry previously holding titles from Classified Sales Rep to Managing Director. He has worked at various companies, including: CMP Media-united Business Media and AspenCore Media.
We are delighted to see Bob working with TalkingIoT and we wish him all the best in his new role.
New Electronics to Launch New Brand in Europe
For over 50 years, New Electronics has been the source of news and information for many within the UK electronic design industry. Now, New Electronics will be expanding its brand, targeting the engineering community across Europe, with the creation of 'New Electronics Europe', which will launch in the new year.
The new branch of the brand will cover key markets such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Austria and many more.
With the aim to reach and engage electronic design engineers, electronic managers and buyers of electronic components, the magazine will provide content which keeps the industry up-to-date with the latest developments, innovations, tech and news.
Marc Young, Publishing Director, MA Business said: “Our aim of expanding our reach into Europe will move New Electronics onto another level and provide our advertisers with a large number of new business prospects while extending the reach of our existing UK clients.”
We look forward to seeing the success of New Electronic Europe and it's great to watch the brand grow and expand!