Date: 27/01/2011

ST ranked Number one in MEMS devices for consumer and portable electronics

According to market analyst iSuppli ST Microelectronics tops in the MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) devices market for consumer and portable applications. As per iSuppli ST's consumer MEMS sales grew 63% in 2010 to reach $353 million, which was almost twice the revenue of its closest competitor. ST leads in both accelerometers and gyroscopes.

ST has introduced more than 30 gyroscopes since 2008 and boosted its gyro revenue-based market share from less than 1% in 2009 to 30% in 2010, says the study.

ST says it has recently passed the one billionth MEMS sensor landmark and has a dedicated 8-inch MEMS fabrication line, which currently produces more than 1.5 million MEMS devices a day.

The MEMS consumer market grew 27% in 2010 to US$1.6 billion and similar growth is expected in the next few years, with revenues topping US$3.7 billion by 2014, according to iSuppli. The continued demands from consumer and mobile applications dominate the growth and these fields are expected to become the biggest MEMS segment by 2014.

"Consumers turning, tilting and tapping their gadgets results from the MEMS revolution we kicked off five years ago," said Benedetto Vigna, Group Vice President and General Manager of the MEMS, Sensors and High Performance Analog Division, STMicroelectronics. "Customers love ST, because we've pioneered small, accurate and affordable motion sensors, through the combination of innovative product design