#microtronics

[merrymarvelite]

Cover of the Day: Micronauts #7 (July, 1979) Art by Michael Golden & Josef Rubinstein

[all-action-all-picture]

The Micronauts No. 38, dated February 1982. Cover by Michael Golden. Marvel.

[nerds-yearbook]

Micronauts 23#, with a cover date of November 1980, introduced Prince Pharoid and Margrace, created by Bill Mantlo and Pat Broderick. The issue also had the return of the Molecule Man. ("Field Trip!", Micronauts #23, Marvel Comic Event)

[bigbysinterposinghand]

happy april first ive been posting about microtron being a parkour civilization fan

[theretirementhome]

Broadcast - Microtronics 17

Buy it here.

[bbpuckdrop]

“microtron” 💀

[shadowron]

The Troll Decker, a Better Troll Archetype for Shadowrun (1st Edition)

Goblinized Teenage Angst and Art by @skullchicken

I cite the ancient texts:

“Suppose you wanted a Troll Decker.” (Charette, Hume, & Dowd, 1989)

So it will be.

It can’t be easy being a troll in 2050.

And despite several advances in the field since 1989, neither is pimpin'

But some "normal" children changed as they grew older, joining the ranks of the so-called Orks and Trolls. These either grouped with their own kind or mated with great-hearted souls who could see past the physical shells. The offspring of such unions were sometimes normal and sometimes produced the new racial types. Not all the "normal" children remained that way, however. Many suddenly underwent gobllnlzation at puberty, and the trauma and its associated maladjustments cycled again through the community. (Ibid.)

Reader, think back to when you went through puberty, and just what a messed-up bag of acne and stress you were. You found solace in the online world, where you could create an image and persona of yourself that was closer to the True You than anyone you knew in your real miserable life.

Then, while waiting for pizza rolls to cook in the microwave, you start goblinizing. Instead of sprouting a few inches, you sprout a few feet. Instead of zits, you have sudden dermal bone deposition and grow fragging horns. And yes, you have the munchies like you wouldn’t believe, but this doesn’t explain the doubling of your body weight.

Suddenly your pre-teen moping seems pathetic – you imagined yourself a hideous monster before.

But now this.

This is our Troll Decker.

Attributes:

Body: 6 Quickness: 2 Strength: 5 Charisma: 1 Intelligence: 4 Willpower: 2 Essence: 5.3 Reaction: 3

Skills:

Computer: 6 Computer Theory: 6 Computer (B/R): 6 Electronics: 4 Etiquette (Street): 2

Cyberware:

Datajack Headware Memory (50 Mp)

Gear:

Microtronics Tool Kit Fuchi-Cyber 4 (Response Increase 2, Active Memory 550 Mp, Storage Memory 1000 Mp) Programs (All at Rating 6): Bod, Evasion, Masking, Sensors, Analyze, Attack, Browse, Deception, Decrypt, Evaluate, Medic, Mirrors, Relocate, Shield, Sleaze, Slow, Smoke

Contacts:

Decker Dwarf Technician Elven Decker Troll Bouncer

[hclib]

Hennepin County at Work

In honor of Labor Day, here are a few photos from our Hennepin County Library Digital Collections of county residents at work. Most of these workers are unidentified. If you recognize anyone, please contact us.

Photos from top:

Worker Adjusting the Clock in Minneapolis City Hall, February 1940 (P12838)

City Worker Cleaning Lamp Posts on Nicollet Mall, 1989 (C50128)

Road Surfacing Crew, 1974 (HCPW0915)

Sig Edling Drives a Tractor Pulling a Potato Digger as an Unidentified Worker Puts Potatoes in Baskets, July 1940 (P12126)

Woman at Drill Press, undated (P38596)

MCDA Pest Control Employee, January 1988 (C46499)

Line Worker Examining a Microchip at Microtron, March 1990 (C42904)

Hennepin County libraries are closed today, Monday, September 4.

[hydralisk98]

VisionQuest-y Reference for "Hypathy Hive Lives"

(bright as 4000+ Kelvin firestorm, dark as cosmic heat death)

Took and still am taking quite a long time to self-reflect upon my personal project stuff. Got stuck for a whole month or so, but at least I keep working towards it regardless and find some strategies to reuse my lazily done corpus of empowering creativity.

Ngl, it is halfway a manifestation board and halfway just a creative "clef" cartouche of topics to cover.

Nil

Kate Ker

Ava Booksword

Tulliann Eleano

Intrigues for Cyberpunk 2077 modding:

Body sex / gender-transition & grand ascendancy arc of Kate (Geocenter)

Synthetic-tier machine rights & freedoms of Ava (Syndicalism, research arc into the oldie web + overall academic history research dive with Tekla & Kate, some body horror sequences and so much byzantine politics surrounding it all)

Political meteoric rise of Tulliann's in Shoshoni parliament (Harmonious World)

The vast Pinegroove commune & its greater region, focusing upon building individual locations towards a "design visual library" bank first to expand from?

Cyberpunk RED TTRPG corpus-derived scene suggestions:

Liberate Ava from some Militech Fortress / Compound -> Tramway Romance sequence (Kate and Ava) -> Oldie Web dives (Kate and Ava) -> Library Research (Kate aided by Tekla scene) -> Case in Parliament (Kate and Tulliann)...

(Anywhere from 12 to 48 narrative beats with median range of ~24 for the total conversion of the main quest-thread, must encapsulate empowering / wholesome ending paths to observe personal empowering transcendance & futureworld constructivism at play)

Quest Threads:

00 Masterpost / Narrative Root

01 Kate (Transfeminine, Autistic, Historian, Geocenter, Burgundian, Brunette)

02 Ava (Synthetic, Syndicalism, SocialServant, StrongMoralityCompass, Austrian, Blonde)

03 Tulliann (Harmony, Shoshoni, Diplomat, Mindful, "Hispanic")

04 Tano (Moth, Future-dweller, Blackfoot, Mystical, "Black")

05 Tekla (Autistic, Mathematician, Academic Librarian / Researcher, Polish)

06 Pana (Assyrian, Ambassador / Host Mistress, Trotskyism, Pragmatic, Military Experience)

Quests proper:

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

Game Modding Projects

Techware Development Projects

Studious Research Projects

Agencies in 16^12 (My corpus-appropriate rendition of key Cyberpunk-franchise corporations in Pinegroove)

Pflaumen (technological hardware manufacturing)

Utalics (contemporary professional software suite in the LISP family)

GLOSS Foundation (gratis free, libre, open source software)

Elk Cybernetics

Pacificx Metrix (CMX?)

Kyutribble

Electric Business Machinery

Standard Electric

General Electrics' Motorized Vehicles Agency (GVC?)

Shark Motors

Paxis Transportation

Sifteo

Vixen Recordings

Magnavox

Hitachi Mainframes

Fairchild Semiconductors

Philadelphia (Philips)

Olivetti

Matra

Siemens

International Computing Limited

Global Videotex Incorporated / Telex / Minitel

Sunwave

Luna Microtronics

Rue Compute Security

Elbris Techware

Panah Softworks

Tekla Cyberware

Czar Supplies

Samantah Stationery

Apia Compute

Gustave Energy

Hugues Radio

Acorn

Sally

Communal Open Systems (Commodore International / COS)

Motorola

Tulip

Elepio Devices

Nuon

Ouya

LaserActive

Zuse Education

Commonality E.V.

Prospero Initiative

OpenPOWER Consortium

Exaword GranData & Telecommunications

Palenque Systems

Nokia

Macroware

Memex Industries

Nitta Spaces

Lepio Interfaces

Xorxes Neurolinguistics

Magnum Carta Legal Experts

Gangs, Ethnicities & Pinegroove's local-first autorities

Shoshones

Blackfoot

Morocco

Assyria

Poland

Inuit

Mayas

Incas

Carthage

Brazil

Burgundy

Scotland

Austria

Babylon

Sumer

Hispania with Hatti flavor (Hittites)

Aremorici (Gaulish Brittany Celts)

Vietnam

Samoa

Cree

Coast Salish with Byzantine flavor (Byzantium)

Hungary

Sweden

Songhay

Minoans

Greeks (Mycenae...)

Italy

Netherlands

Sami

Croatia

Indonesia

Hanseatic League

Chile

Kazakhs

Lithuania

Oman

Albania

Nubia / Dene

Moravia

Turks

Swahili

Hurons

Two-Sicilies with Catalan & Basque flavor (Aragon?)

Political Factions

National Union / Unity Party

Sociodemocrats (most progressive within Unity)

Democrats (Liberals)

Libertarians (Liberty caucus)

Republicans (Neoconservatives)

Strasserists / Sunsway Clique (religiously conservative alt-right, still within Unity)

Progressives Coalition

Trotskyism (Decentralized Authority Far-Left State Communism)

Syndicate (Cooperatives-focused Syndicalists)

Geocenter (Ecologists / Greens)

Harmonists (Harmonious Society / World)

Religions

Pohakantenna (Shoshones pantheon)

Angakkunngurniq (Inuit pantheon)

Intiism (Incas pantheon)

Tzolk'in (Mayan pantheon)

Canaanism (Punic pantheon)

Zoroastrianism (Iranian pantheon)

Tala-e-Fonua (Samoan pantheon)

Arianism (Catholics)

Calvinism (Protestants)

Hussitism (Eastern Christians)

Daoism (traditional religion)

Chaldeanism (Babylonian pantheon)

Ashurism (Assyrian pantheon)

Jainism (Songhay / Mughals religion in this worldscape similar to its sibling, Theravada Buddhism)

Druidism (Aremorici pantheon)

Ibadiyya (Oman & Moroccan religion)

Pesedjet (folk religion)

Baha'i (organized religion)

?

POSTFACE

Mature violence TW for the dream log, details under the cut because it really is the very triggering one thing deserving the label and nothing else:

(Sometimes expressing myself so bluntly honest is not the best thing to do eh? This time I got a dream spitting out the worldscape we live currently by, right back at amazing allies of mine for trauma processing that kicked me out for what amounts to a excellent reason, so it might not be the best idea next time to push outward my darker feelings. And yes, it had axis-victory tier of horror-fuel.)

Essentially the (nightdream+daydream) dream power escalation dream interrupted by me waking up and still engaging in the fantasy of it until it felt satisfactory justice-wise. It was a fierce duel between me and Doctor Robotnik (yk the one person whom Sonic calls "Eggman") which he tried containing me in his control-freak nihilism of a world (Trying to exert control over the universe itself, and also where my sleepy part of the dream somewhat ended). He destroyed several clusters of stars (most I made were red dwarves because I got quite the vibe for distant future cosmogonies tbh) at each attempt of mine to make it begin once more, I was unimpressed and very disappointed of him.

It ended up very gruesome and vile (for a cartoon caricature character of Theodore Roosevelt, the one person I should not insult the legacy of) with him getting his brain chopped of into a machine by nobody else but William Strasse (aka Deathshead from Wolfenstein) as servant of grander forces than I, which made me smile where it shouldn't have as it has been a lingering thought for quite a long time.

I do not wish it even to my worst rivals, even the ever-present systemic dread from Woodrow Wilson's legacy in the present day (which is my vendetta these days, but one I understand the context of fairly well), but that being said, some of those really spark much imaginative energy in me with the present political circumstances. I guess it signals that it would really be time for me to heal my inner shadows and embrace positivity fully-ier before it invokes worse monsters from the human minds' psyche into local space.

Hopefully we transcend the "Burgundian Himmler" neo-fascism phase of West's decadence fast and swiftly because each week that passes on their helm keeps invoking worse and worse horrors as they reach the ocean of clades' bottom pit of despair with too little punishment.

[pleaserelaxslowly]

2005

In 2004, I started my weekly listening challenge, and it has been 21 years that I have been doing it consistently. Unfortunately, over time, I have lost most of the playlists that I had made before 2005. As far as the weekly listening challenge mixes, I have lost all of them before 2007. The earliest playlists that I have which survive are from 2005, exactly 20 years ago. To celebrate returning to these and listening to them 20 years later, I decided to compile a year's end mix like I have been doing every year since at least 2008. This is all after the fact, and there are several tracks included on here that I know I wasn't aware of back in 2005. However, it would be impossible for me to determine which songs I had in 2005 and which I did not, so I just included them all. Why not?

"Rondo acapricio" by Tosca from J.A.C.

"Pinconning" by Benoît Pioulard from Enge

"Lazy Lover" by Brazilian Girls from Brazilian Girls

"Mesmerize" by The Daysleepers from Hide Your Eyes

"Without Your Love" by The Venus Transmission from The Venus Transmission

"Thrasher" by Engineers from Engineers

"Cinnamon" by Airiel from Airiel

"This Past Week" by The Radio Dept. from This Past Week

"Clouds" by Ceremony from Ceremony

"Ultrablast" by Astrobrite from PINKSHINYULTRABLAST

"Venus in Cancer" by Amusement Parks on Fire from Amusement Parks on Fire

"Eurostar" by Soundpool from On High

"It's Not the Worst I've Looked (Lali Puna Remix)" by Two Lone Swordsmen from I Thought I Was over That? (Rare, Remixed and B-Sides)

"Army of Me (Reinterpreted by Grisbi)" by Björk from <Army of Me> Remixes and Covers

"Floating City" by Shrift from Lost in a Moment

"C'est la vie" by Phonoboy from Très chic, trashig

"'75 Stay with You" by Lemon Jelly from '64-'95

"Sow into You" by Róisín Murphy from Ruby Blue

"Number One" by Goldfrapp from Supernature

"We R in need of a musical ReVoLuTIoN!" by Esthero from Wikked Lil' Grrrls

"King of the Mountain" by Kate Bush from Aerial

"Triumph of a Heart (Radio Edit)" by Björk from Triumph of a Heart

"Hell Yes" by Beck from Guero

"Do the Bambi" by Stereo Total from Do the Bambi

"Wish" by Solvent from Elevators and Oscillators

"Don't Save Us from the Flames" by M83 from Before the Dawn Heals Us

"What Else Is There?" by Röyksopp from The Understanding

"Daft Punk Is Playing at My House" by LCD Soundsystem from LCD Soundsystem

"America's Boy" by Broadcast from Tender Buttons

"Git" by Skeletons and the Girl-Faced Boys from Git

"Feel Good, Inc." by Gorillaz from Demon Days

"Melody (French Version)" by Blonde Redhead from Secret Society of Butterflies

"So Many Worlds" by Rambient featuring Miho Hatori from So Many Worlds

"Microtronics 15" by Broadcast from Microtronics Vol.2: Stereo Recorded Music for Links and Bridges

"Just a Little Lovin' (gB Remix)" by Carmen McCrae from Atlantiquity

"Speak Low (Bent Remix)" by Billie Holiday from Verve Remixed³

"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (DJ Jazzy Jeff & Pete Kuzma Solefull Remix)" by The Temptations from Motown Remixed

"Joy" by Bettye Lavette from I've Got My Own Hell to Raise

"Entertain" by Sleater-Kinney from The Woods

"BLEED LIKE ME" by Garbage from BLEED LIKE ME

"Speed of Sound" by Coldplay from X&Y

"Soul Meets Body" by Death Cab for Cutie from Plans

"Sleeps with Butterflies" by Tori Amos from The Beekeeper

"If You Rescue Me (Chanson des chats)" by Gael García Bernal, Sacha Bourdo, Alain Chabat and Aurélia Petit from The Science of Sleep

"Let out the Crows" by Proofsound from Six Feet Under

"Dum Maro Dum (Take Another Toke)" by Asha Bhosle with Kronos Quartet from You've Stolen My Heart: Songs from R. D. Burman's Bollywood

"The Mask" by DANGERDOOM featuring Ghostface Killa from The Mouse & The Mask

"Amazon" by M.I.A. from Arular

"Dona Gigi" by Os Caçadores from Bem funk Brasil

"The Loving Sounds of Static" by Mobius Band from The Loving Sounds of Static

"Who's Gonna Sing?" by Prototypes from Mutants médiatiques

"American Automatic" by Kill Memory Crash from American Automatic

"Destroy Everything You Touch" by Ladytron from Witching Hour

"Cherry" by Lisa Shaw from Cherry*

"Fall in Violet" by Pole Folder featuring Shelley Harland from Zero Gold

"Inside/Out" by Lusine from Inside/Out

"Exactement" by Vive la fête ! from Grand prix

"Get Together" by Madonna from Confessions on a Dance Floor

"Rapture" by iiO from Poetica

"Cherry (Eric's 5rw Remix)" by Lisa Shaw from Cherry**

"Avalon (Jacques Lu Cont Versus Remix)" by Juliet from Avalon

"Don't Save Us from the Flames (Superpitcher Remix)" by M83 from Don't Save Us from the Flames

"Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's The Thin White Duke Mix)" by The Killers from Mr. Brightside

"Oblivion (Dixon's Edit)" by i:Cube from Fr33z

"Just Let Go (Thin White Duke Remix)" by Fischerspooner from Just Let Go

"Beyond the Congo" by Legowelt from Beyond the Congo

"East to West" by Marc Houle from Minimize to Maximize

"Love vs. Distance" by The Field from Things Keep Falling Down

"EPA Effect" by Arpanet from Quantum Transposition

"Burning Bright" by Ulf Lohmann from Pop Ambient 2006

* LP ** single

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

REST IN MIGHTY MARVEL POWER -- "THOSE MICRONAUTS WHO HAVE DIED FOR THE CAUSE."

PIC INFO: Spotlight on a pin-up of "formerly living" Micronauts, from "Micronauts" Vol. 1 #54. September, 1983. Marvel Comics. Artwork by Jackson "Butch" Guice & Bob Wiacek. Clockwise from top left:

Lady Slug, Prince Pharoid, Jasmine, Margrace, Biotron, Devil, Nanotron, & Microtron.

Source: https://gone-and-forgotten.blogspot.com/2018/05/micronauts-monday-54-murder-1.html.

[merrymarvelite]

Cover of the Day: Micronauts #8 (August, 1979) Art by Michael Golden

[all-action-all-picture]

1979 house ad for The Micronauts. They Came From Inner Space! In the Northern Irish language this would be written as They Came From Inner Space, So They Did!

[nerds-yearbook]

In Micronaunts 13, cover date January, 1980, Queen Esmera, Wartstaff, Jasmine and the world Kaliklak made their first appearance. They were created by Bill Mantlo and Howard Chaykin. ("Be It Ever So Deadly", Micronauts 13#, Marvel Comic Event)

[caseyblu]

Music for Measurements Liner Notes

I remember rehearsals from my time in the Richard Swift band being not so much rehearsals but extended communal DJ sessions. At the time, Swift had two turntables, a mixer, and a pair of ESS AMT 1 speakers set up on one side of his recording studio (National Freedom in Cottage Grove Oregon) where we rehearsed. The members of the band would take turns selecting and playing cuts from Swift’s extensive, well curated album collection, while the rest of us sat in a corner of the studio in a diner booth Swift had thrifted or scavenged from somewhere in town. At some point, one of us would mention the necessity of practicing for the upcoming tour, and we would put away the records, plug in our instruments, and play. Usually we ran through the set once or twice, punctuated by tongue-in-cheek jam sessions. After which, it was back to listening. Swift’s taste in music, manifested in his record collection, and these DJ sessions at his studio, exercised a formative influence on my conception of what makes for a good recording: novel and overwhelming aural texture, good vocals, mystery, melody, and great drums. Swift also had a penchant for music that he called “properly weird.” Not weird in a contrived, self-conscious, or shallow way, but intrinsically off-kilter: a good singer with a memorably unique voice, a drummer with an egg shaped approach to time keeping, a guitar player that never bothered to fully tune their guitar, or recordings so compressed and distorted that the instruments melted into a unified, abstract, electric representation of a band. Sandy Bull’s recording of “Memphis Tennessee,” Joe Meek’s space-aged 50s pop productions, Broadcast’s Microtronics, R.L. Burnside’s Sound Machine Groove, Pressure Sounds Reggae-Dub comps, and Bo Diddley all spring immediately to mind.    So, why all this reminiscing? It was in the spirit of these DJ sessions that I recorded Music for Measurements. I set out to make something that would be at home among Swift’s record collection, with tracks that might be selected for inclusion in one of our ad hoc DJ sets. I recorded the album over the course of a few years, mostly on an old Tascam 246 4-track cassette recorder. Two of the tracks “Lobby Call” and “Skin Tight��� I recorded with Swift at his National Freedom studio. Asthmatic Kitty released the album as part of their Music Library series in 2009. “Lobby Call” ended up in a Visa commercial that Visa assured me was “low budget” when we were negotiation the license fee—Morgan Freeman narrated the spot, it featured Colin Kaepernick, Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, and Larry Fitzgerald, and the commercial ran for an entire NFL season every Monday night… This same song made it into the season finale of the first season of HBO’s Bored To Death, where it set the mood for a boxing match gone wrong. Asthmatic Kitty’s Music Library experiment was short-lived, and so the record went out of print pretty quickly. I’m quite fond of this record, and always regretted releasing it under a fictitious band name “Law of the Least Effort.” So I’m re-releasing it, under my own name. A lot has changed in the world, and in my life since the record came out. Swift and I drifted in and out of contact over the years until his passing. The last time I saw him was at party and small show he DJ’ed in Portland, Oregon. After the show he played me some music he was working on while we sat in his car reminiscing. As usual, he played the music at a blistering volume, and it was beautiful.

I remember rehearsals from my time in the Richard Swift band being not so much rehearsals but extended communal DJ sessions. At the time, Swift had two turntables, a mixer, and a pair of ESS AMT 1 speakers set up on one side of his recording studio (National Freedom in Cottage Grove Oregon) where we rehearsed. The members of the band would take turns selecting and playing cuts from Swift’s extensive, well curated album collection, while the rest of us sat in a corner of the studio in a diner booth Swift had thrifted or scavenged from somewhere in town. At some point, one of us would mention the necessity of practicing for the upcoming tour, and we would put away the records, plug in our instruments, and play. Usually we ran through the set once or twice, punctuated by tongue-in-cheek jam sessions. After which, it was back to listening. Swift’s taste in music, manifested in his record collection, and these DJ sessions at his studio, exercised a formative influence on my conception of what makes for a good recording: novel and overwhelming aural texture, good vocals, mystery, melody, and great drums. Swift also had a penchant for music that he called “properly weird.” Not weird in a contrived, self-conscious, or shallow way, but intrinsically off-kilter: a good singer with a memorably unique voice, a drummer with an egg shaped approach to time keeping, a guitar player that never bothered to fully tune their guitar, or recordings so compressed and distorted that the instruments melted into a unified, abstract, electric representation of a band. Sandy Bull’s recording of “Memphis Tennessee,” Joe Meek’s space-aged 50s pop productions, Broadcast’s Microtronics, R.L. Burnside’s Sound Machine Groove, Pressure Sounds Reggae-Dub comps, and Bo Diddley all spring immediately to mind.    So, why all this reminiscing? It was in the spirit of these DJ sessions that I recorded Music for Measurements. I set out to make something that would be at home among Swift’s record collection, with tracks that might be selected for inclusion in one of our ad hoc DJ sets. I recorded the album over the course of a few years, mostly on an old Tascam 246 4-track cassette recorder. Two of the tracks “Lobby Call” and “Skin Tight” I recorded with Swift at his National Freedom studio. Asthmatic Kitty released the album as part of their Music Library series in 2009. “Lobby Call” ended up in a Visa commercial that Visa assured me was “low budget” when we were negotiation the license fee—Morgan Freeman narrated the spot, it featured Colin Kaepernick, Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, and Larry Fitzgerald, and the commercial ran for an entire NFL season every Monday night… This same song made it into the season finale of the first season of HBO’s Bored To Death, where it set the mood for a boxing match gone wrong. Asthmatic Kitty’s Music Library experiment was short-lived, and so the record went out of print pretty quickly. I’m quite fond of this record, and always regretted releasing it under a fictitious band name “Law of the Least Effort.” So I’m re-releasing it, under my own name. A lot has changed in the world, and in my life since the record came out. Swift and I drifted in and out of contact over the years until his passing. The last time I saw him was at party and small show he DJ’ed in Portland, Oregon. After the show he played me some music he was working on while we sat in his car reminiscing. As usual, he played the music at a blistering volume, and it was beautiful.

https://caseyfoubert.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-measurements

[exitrendmarkettrend]

The Semiconductor Inspection Equipment Market: A Key Driver in Semiconductor Industry Advancements

The Semiconductor Inspection Equipment Market plays a crucial role in ensuring the production of high-quality and defect-free semiconductor devices, which are integral to nearly every electronic system in use today. From smartphones to AI processors, semiconductors are the foundation of modern technology. The inspection equipment used during semiconductor manufacturing ensures the precision, reliability, and performance of these devices. As the semiconductor industry evolves and demand for advanced technology increases, the inspection equipment market is expanding rapidly.

In this blog, we will explore the growth trajectory of the semiconductor inspection equipment market, its segmentation, key market players, regional insights, and emerging trends that are shaping the future of this sector.

Market Overview

Growth Trends and Projections

The semiconductor inspection equipment market is experiencing significant growth, driven by advancements in semiconductor manufacturing technologies and the rising demand for high-performance devices. In 2023, the market size was valued at $8.16 billion, and it is projected to grow to $8.78 billion by 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.83% from 2024 to 2030. By 2030, the market is expected to reach $12.84 billion, reflecting the increasing importance of semiconductor inspection across industries like consumer electronics, automotive, telecommunications, and healthcare.

The market's steady growth rate reflects the increasing sophistication of semiconductor manufacturing and the corresponding need for advanced inspection solutions to ensure product quality and performance.

Base Year and Forecast Period

Base Year: 2023

Forecast Period: 2024 to 2030

This forecast period suggests that technological advancements and the scaling up of semiconductor production will lead to sustained demand for inspection equipment.

Key Market Players

The semiconductor inspection equipment market is highly competitive and consists of several key players that have shaped its evolution. Leading companies in the industry include:

KLA-Tencor: A global leader in process control and yield management, offering cutting-edge inspection and metrology systems.

Applied Materials: Renowned for providing innovative semiconductor manufacturing solutions, including inspection and metrology equipment.

Hitachi High-Technologies: Known for providing comprehensive inspection solutions that enhance the production quality of semiconductors.

ASML: A giant in photolithography systems, ASML also develops inspection solutions for semiconductor wafer inspection.

Onto Innovation: Specializes in providing advanced solutions for semiconductor metrology, defect inspection, and process control.

Lasertec: Offers inspection equipment for semiconductor manufacturing, particularly in the fields of defect inspection and metrology.

ZEISS: Provides high-precision inspection and metrology solutions, with a focus on enhancing semiconductor manufacturing processes.

SCREEN Semiconductor Solutions: A leading supplier of cleaning and inspection equipment for the semiconductor industry.

Camtek: Known for their inspection and metrology systems designed to enhance yield and quality in semiconductor production.

Veeco Instruments: Specializes in inspection equipment used for semiconductor wafer analysis, including defect detection and metrology.

Toray Engineering: A key player in providing inspection solutions, particularly for semiconductor wafer inspection.

Muetec: Offers metrology and inspection equipment for semiconductor applications.

Unity Semiconductor SAS: Focuses on developing inspection tools that enhance the performance of semiconductor devices.

Microtronic: Provides innovative inspection systems designed for the semiconductor industry.

RSIC Scientific Instruments: Specializes in advanced scientific instruments for semiconductor inspection and measurement.

DJEL: Offers cutting-edge technology in inspection and metrology for semiconductor manufacturing.

These key players are constantly investing in research and development to meet the rising demand for high-precision, defect-free semiconductor devices.

Market Segmentation

The semiconductor inspection equipment market is segmented based on type and application.

By Type

Defect Inspection Equipment Defect inspection equipment is designed to detect defects and irregularities in semiconductor wafers and devices during manufacturing. These systems are crucial for identifying even the smallest defects that could compromise the functionality or performance of semiconductors. The growth in this segment is driven by the increasing complexity of semiconductor devices and the demand for high yields.

Metrology Equipment Metrology equipment is used for precise measurement and characterization of semiconductor features. As semiconductor devices shrink in size, accurate measurements are more important than ever. This equipment helps manufacturers meet the stringent requirements of the industry, ensuring that the devices meet their required specifications.

By Applications

Semiconductor Wafer Inspection Wafer inspection is one of the most critical processes in semiconductor manufacturing. Wafers are examined for defects and imperfections that can impact the overall functionality of the semiconductor device. With the growing demand for smaller and more powerful chips, the need for high-precision wafer inspection equipment has increased significantly.

Semiconductor Mask/Film Inspection Mask and film inspection equipment is used to inspect the photomasks and films applied to semiconductor wafers during the lithography process. The precision required in this process ensures that semiconductor devices meet the necessary specifications for performance and reliability. As advanced semiconductor devices become more complex, the demand for mask/film inspection equipment is expected to rise.

Regional Insights

The semiconductor inspection equipment market has a global reach, with major regions experiencing varying growth trends based on the demand for semiconductor devices and technological advancements.

North America

Market Drivers: North America is home to some of the world's largest semiconductor manufacturers and is a key region for the market. The growing demand for advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and 5G is driving the need for highly accurate and reliable semiconductor devices.

Key Players: KLA-Tencor, Applied Materials, and Onto Innovation have a strong presence in this region.

Market Outlook: The North American market is expected to continue growing as technological advancements in semiconductor manufacturing and inspection equipment evolve.

Europe

Market Drivers: Europe's semiconductor industry is expanding, driven by demand in automotive and industrial applications. The increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and automation technologies is propelling the demand for high-performance semiconductors.

Key Players: Companies like ZEISS and ASML are key players in this region, providing cutting-edge inspection solutions.

Market Outlook: The European semiconductor inspection equipment market is expected to grow steadily, particularly with the rise of automation and green technology initiatives.

Asia Pacific

Market Drivers: Asia Pacific is the largest and fastest-growing region for the semiconductor inspection equipment market. The region hosts some of the world's largest semiconductor foundries, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Samsung Electronics. The demand for advanced semiconductor devices in consumer electronics, automotive, and telecommunications is driving growth in this region.

Key Players: Hitachi High-Technologies, Lasertec, and Camtek have a strong foothold in Asia Pacific.

Market Outlook: The region will continue to dominate the market due to its large manufacturing base and growing demand for semiconductor devices.

Latin America

Market Drivers: While Latin America is not as large a market as North America or Asia Pacific, the growing focus on technology development and the adoption of advanced electronics are increasing the demand for high-quality semiconductor inspection equipment.

Market Outlook: Latin America’s market is expected to grow steadily, particularly as more companies invest in semiconductor manufacturing and technology infrastructure.

Middle East & Africa

Market Drivers: The Middle East and Africa are emerging markets for semiconductor inspection equipment due to increasing investments in technology and the adoption of smart devices in these regions.

Market Outlook: The Middle East & Africa market is expected to expand, though it will remain relatively small compared to other regions.

Key Growth Drivers

Several factors are driving the growth of the semiconductor inspection equipment market:

Demand for Advanced Semiconductors The increasing demand for advanced semiconductors in applications like AI, 5G, automotive, and IoT is driving the need for high-quality inspection and metrology equipment. As semiconductor devices shrink, the need for precise inspection increases.

Technological Advancements The ongoing development of semiconductor fabrication technologies, such as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography and 3D semiconductor stacking, requires state-of-the-art inspection equipment. These advancements demand more sophisticated defect detection and measurement systems.

Miniaturization of Semiconductor Devices As semiconductor devices become smaller and more powerful, the need for higher precision in manufacturing and inspection grows. Metrology equipment plays a crucial role in ensuring that these devices meet their performance specifications.

Industry Demand for High-Yield Production Semiconductor manufacturers are under constant pressure to improve yields and reduce defects. Inspection equipment helps to identify potential issues early in the production process, ensuring higher yields and reducing production costs.

Emerging Trends

Artificial Intelligence in Semiconductor Inspection AI and machine learning are being integrated into semiconductor inspection systems to improve defect detection and predictive maintenance. These technologies enable more accurate and faster identification of issues, reducing production time.

Automation and Smart Manufacturing The rise of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing is driving the need for more automated and efficient inspection processes. Automation helps to reduce human error and improve the overall efficiency of semiconductor production.

Increased Focus on Sustainability As environmental concerns grow, there is a shift toward more sustainable semiconductor manufacturing processes. This includes the development of inspection equipment that reduces energy consumption and waste during production.

Conclusion

The semiconductor inspection equipment market is poised for significant growth, driven by technological advancements, increased demand for high-performance devices, and the push for higher production yields in semiconductor manufacturing. With a projected market size of $12.84 billion by 2030, this market represents a significant opportunity for both established companies and new entrants. As semiconductor devices become more complex and smaller in size, the role of inspection equipment will continue to evolve, providing critical support to semiconductor manufacturers worldwide. The market’s growth trajectory, bolstered by emerging technologies like AI and automation, suggests an exciting future for the semiconductor inspection industry.