Semiconductor Wafer Polishing and Grinding Equipment - Global Strategic Business Report

The global market for Semiconductor Wafer Polishing and Grinding Equipment was valued at US$263.5 Million in 2024 and is projected to reach US$331.0 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.9% from 2024 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions. The report includes the most recent global tariff developments and how they impact the Semiconductor Wafer Polishing and Grinding Equipment market.

Global 'Semiconductor Wafer Polishing and Grinding Equipment' Market - Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

Why Is Planarization and Surface Prep So Vital in Chipmaking?

Semiconductor wafer polishing and grinding equipment play a foundational role in wafer surface preparation, enabling the ultra-flat, defect-free substrates required for modern logic, memory, and analog devices. Grinding equipment removes surface irregularities and thins wafers for packaging, while polishing systems (especially for CMP - Chemical Mechanical Planarization) ensure uniform topography before subsequent layers are applied. These steps are crucial not just for yield, but for device reliability, particularly as chips transition into 3D architectures and ultra-thin packaging formats. For high-bandwidth memory (HBM), backside thinning is essential to facilitate stacking. In power semiconductors and GaN-on-Si applications, precise grinding and polishing ensure thermal performance and electrical isolation. As devices become smaller and more complex, wafer flatness tolerances shrink, making these tools more mission-critical than ever.

Are Hybrid Machines and Process Control Driving Next-Level Performance?

Modern grinding and polishing equipment now feature hybrid tool designs that combine multiple functions - such as thinning, buffing, and rough polishing - in a single platform. These machines offer advanced process control with integrated metrology for real-time thickness, flatness, and material removal rate (MRR) monitoring. Servo-driven heads, vacuum chucks, and automated wafer loading systems enhance repeatability and minimize operator intervention. With wafer diameters reaching 300mm and beyond, multi-zone control and pressure adjustment systems are required to maintain surface uniformity. AI-based feedback systems allow dynamic recipe adjustments, ensuring consistent throughput and surface quality across wafer lots. Tool modularity allows fabs to upgrade process heads or add custom cleaning stages without a full equipment swap. As equipment precision increases, yield improvements are directly traceable to polishing and grinding tool performance, making innovation in this space essential to overall fab economics.

How Is Packaging Evolution Impacting Grinding and Polishing Needs?

The rise of advanced packaging - including fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP), system-in-package (SiP), and chiplet integration - is pushing the boundaries of wafer surface prep. Ultra-thin wafer formats (often below 100 microns) require delicate thinning and stress relief processes during grinding. Polishing is equally important in RDL (redistribution layer) applications, where layer-to-layer alignment is crucial. As 2.5D and 3D packaging gain momentum, backside grinding and double-side polishing are being adopted for better integration and heat dissipation. These trends demand tools that support wafer carriers, temporary bonding, and debonding systems. Equipment must also accommodate different substrate materials like SiC, sapphire, or compound semiconductors without sacrificing accuracy or surface quality. As packaging evolves from a back-end process into a performance-driving feature, polishing and grinding are moving closer to the center of semiconductor innovation.

What’s Fueling the Demand for Wafer Polishing and Grinding Equipment Worldwide?

The growth in the global semiconductor wafer polishing and grinding equipment market is driven by several factors including chip miniaturization, packaging complexity, and expansion of non-silicon materials. As fabs adopt thinner wafers for mobile, AI, and automotive chips, demand for precision grinding and planarization tools is rising. The explosion of 3D NAND and stacked DRAM is increasing the number of critical surface prep steps in each wafer’s lifecycle. Growth in GaN, SiC, and other wide-bandgap semiconductor applications is expanding the equipment’s role beyond mainstream silicon. Fabs are also investing in integrated systems that combine grinding, polishing, and cleaning to reduce tool footprint and enhance process reliability. Rising demand for advanced packaging in China, South Korea, and the U.S. is leading to tool upgrades across OSATs and IDMs alike. Vendors offering high-throughput, recipe-flexible, and multi-material-compatible systems are gaining market share as fabs demand next-gen surface preparation technologies.

Report Scope

The report analyzes the Semiconductor Wafer Polishing and Grinding Equipment market, presented in terms of market value (US$ Thousand). The analysis covers the key segments and geographic regions outlined below.

Segments: Type (Semiconductor Wafer Polishing Equipment, Semiconductor Wafer Grinding Equipment); End-Use (Foundries, Memory Manufacturers, IDMs, Other End-Uses).

Geographic Regions/Countries: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Key Insights:

• Market Growth: Understand the significant growth trajectory of the Semiconductor Wafer Polishing Equipment segment, which is expected to reach US$212.3 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of a 4.7%. The Semiconductor Wafer Grinding Equipment segment is also set to grow at 2.5% CAGR over the analysis period.
• Regional Analysis: Gain insights into the U.S. market, valued at $71.8 Million in 2024, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 7.3% CAGR to reach $67.6 Million by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific.

Why You Should Buy This Report:

• Detailed Market Analysis: Access a thorough analysis of the Global Semiconductor Wafer Polishing and Grinding Equipment Market, covering all major geographic regions and market segments.
• Competitive Insights: Get an overview of the competitive landscape, including the market presence of major players across different geographies.
• Future Trends and Drivers: Understand the key trends and drivers shaping the future of the Global Semiconductor Wafer Polishing and Grinding Equipment Market.
• Actionable Insights: Benefit from actionable insights that can help you identify new revenue opportunities and make strategic business decisions.

Key Questions Answered:

• How is the Global Semiconductor Wafer Polishing and Grinding Equipment Market expected to evolve by 2030?
• What are the main drivers and restraints affecting the market?
• Which market segments will grow the most over the forecast period?
• How will market shares for different regions and segments change by 2030?
• Who are the leading players in the market, and what are their prospects?

Report Features:

• Comprehensive Market Data: Independent analysis of annual sales and market forecasts in US$ Million from 2024 to 2030.
• In-Depth Regional Analysis: Detailed insights into key markets, including the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.
• Company Profiles: Coverage of players such as 3M Company, ACCRETECH (Tokyo Seimitsu), Amtech Systems, Inc., Applied Materials, Inc., Arnold Gruppe and more.
• Complimentary Updates: Receive free report updates for one year to keep you informed of the latest market developments.

Some of the 34 companies featured in this Semiconductor Wafer Polishing and Grinding Equipment market report include:

• 3M Company
• ACCRETECH (Tokyo Seimitsu)
• Amtech Systems, Inc.
• Applied Materials, Inc.
• Arnold Gruppe
• ATM Qness GmbH
• Axus Technology
• Buehler Ltd.
• Chichibu Denshi, Inc.
• DISCO Corporation
• Ebara Corporation
• Engis Corporation
• Entrepix, Inc.
• Evatec AG
• Fujikoshi Machinery Corp.
• Hitachi High-Technologies
• KEHREN GmbH
• KLA Corporation
• Komatsu NTC Ltd.
• Lapmaster Wolters GmbH

Tariff Impact Analysis: Key Insights for 2025

Global tariff negotiations across 180+ countries are reshaping supply chains, costs, and competitiveness. This report reflects the latest developments as of April 2025 and incorporates forward-looking insights into the market outlook.

The analysts continuously track trade developments worldwide, drawing insights from leading global economists and over 200 industry and policy institutions, including think tanks, trade organizations, and national economic advisory bodies. This intelligence is integrated into forecasting models to provide timely, data-driven analysis of emerging risks and opportunities.

What's Included in This Edition:

• Tariff-adjusted market forecasts by region and segment
• Analysis of cost and supply chain implications by sourcing and trade exposure
• Strategic insights into geographic shifts

Buyers receive a free July 2025 update with:

• Finalized tariff impacts and new trade agreement effects
• Updated projections reflecting global sourcing and cost shifts
• Expanded country-specific coverage across the industry