SAN FRANCISCO, USA: The Chelmsford, Massachusetts-based Brooks Automation Inc, a prominent player in the semiconductor manufacturing equipment vending segment, is looking at revenues to the tune of $64 million for the fourth quarter, ended September 30. Brooks is into manufacture of automation equipment used in chip fabs.

If projections turn out to be true, the company would be posting revenues up by around 45 per cent compared to the numbers recorded during the previous quarter. Brooks had previously forecast that revenue would be up about 25 per cent sequentially

Industry observers admit that the semiconductor equipment suppliers worldwide had been majorly impacted as a result of the ongoing recessionary trend. Even as chip makers have started posting positive numbers as of late, the general fear is that suppliers might continue to struggle into next year.

Another vendor in the Brooks' space, Asyst Technologies had been reported to have filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year.

A company official has been quoted by an industry report as saying that a major upturn in requirements from its semiconductor OEM accounts throughout the world had seen acceleration during the quarter.

Robert Lepofsky, Brooks president and CEO, in a statement said that the trend has continued since the quarter closed and that Brooks is presently anticipating revenue growth of at least another 45 percent for the current quarter, which closes December 31.