$ATOM Well that was somewhat disappointing...
I sat in on the ZOOM CC and came away a little more discouraged than I anticipated. NOT because of a change in potential or ability but because of the timing. In other words, I suspect they will soar..............eventually. Take-away points as I remember them:
1) Scott really hit on the fact that the current chip shortage/bottleneck has stymied progress in BOTH new and existing customer work. A "double edged sword" as he put it. On the one hand, "new" (prospective) customers have told them that they have no ability to entertain test runs of new wafers with the MST technology because they are running at capacity now trying to catch up with existing client demands and back logs. On the other hand, those clients who have already committed (Phase I-IV) are moving slower as they, too, are experiencing having to run at full capacity to maintain their own obligations.
He went on to say that both camps (new and existing customers) acknowledged that they will, in fact, at some point if the future, need to do something to cure this chip shortage problem.
2) (I found it interesting) Scott mentioned (with a picture as well) of their EPI tool that they use in their CAD to production process that is stationed in Tempe Arizona. I remember that Intel stated in their News Release a few weeks ago that:
"Intel Corp will greatly expand its advanced chip manufacturing capacity as the new chief executive announced plans to spend as much as $20 billion to build two factories in Arizona and open its factories to outside customers."
Arizona is a great spot for this type of manufacturing and it may be pure coincidence.
3) Another interesting tidbit that just came to light by Scott's own admission. He stated that it just came out this past week that they have now confirmed that MST technology works on the 3nm film which apparently is in (his words) the area where chip makers are seeing a "huge demand". This is the area where all the phone makers, gamers, and etc., are needing help. Everyone thinks autos, which is true- there is an ongoing demand that is going to only get bigger in the auto industry, but the smaller film chips is where the real money and demand will be because they need it now. In fact, he said they (someone at ATOM) is writing a "White Paper" on the topic of their recent accomplishments and achievements in that realm. That, too me was probably the biggest news item imo.
4) Several questions from analysts/shareholders regarding the "slowdown" in the current business climate forcing ATOM to push projected dates further out- Scott, said it's not all bad as he said that they have perfected their CAD science to the point that if a prospective client has already given them the parameters for what they are looking for, but now need to put it on hold for a quarter or more due to current work constraints, ATOM is able to continue to test and improve in the interim so when the client comes back, there is no need to start where they left off- they will be up-to-date and can continue as if they hadn't paused.
Those were my take-aways from memory and notes jotted down as I watched. So you can see why I say I was disappointed- not because of a company failing, but, the timing of whole thing getting pushed back by extraneous circumstanses. I will reiterate, I'm very excited about the revelation of the ability of ATOM to be able to apply MST at the 3nm level- that opens up a HUGE opportunity imo and was the one area that I saw months ago where some Yahooz and SA "techy gurus" were clamoring that ATOM wouldn't be able to go big unless they could get into that market (revamping the small chip market (phones/games/etc.,)- provide significant improvement without having to manufacture a new wafer size (smaller) which most people believe manufacturers can no longer do- they have reached the limit)
Theo 
;-)
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