2004年对全球的半导体制造商和设备供应商来说可谓是风调雨顺。全球半导体工业在经历了2001年那次历来最糟糕的衰退以后,终于在去年年中又攀上了一个新高(见图1)。根据国际半导体设备及材料行业协会(SEMI)的统计,2004年全球半导体设备市场的平均年增长率接近70%,而其中中国台湾地区和中国 2004 is a good year for semiconductor manufacturers and equipment suppliers around the world. The global semiconductor industry finally climbed to a new height in the middle of last year after experiencing the worst recession in its history in 2001 (see Figure 1). According to the International Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Industry Association (SEMI) statistics, in 2004 the global semiconductor equipment market average annual growth rate of nearly 70%, of which China Taiwan and China