Group 5's Scaife, a former contract broker for Sematech during its transition to new programs in the early 1990s, says it's difficult to determine just how large the industry will become. The surplus market is tremendously fragmented, and no really accurate measurement of the total market is available. The business is also very volatile. Overall, the industry has a solid growth trend line. The only generalization I would venture is that business is best in either downturns or upturns of the semiconductor industry.
Flat periods provide neither supply nor demand for surplus equipment.
Alexander welcomes all comers. Alexander circulates the profile to the member companies. The prospective member is then asked to secure a sponsor from among the current membership. Alexander stresses that the consortium wants to approach this entire process in a positive way and has no desire to formally certify companies or publicize the names of transgressors. It's happened once already.