OT Sharp goes outside for flash production
November 8, 2000
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Crista Souza
To secure a long-term supply of flash-memory wafers, Sharp Corp., Tokyo, said last week it has agreed to invest 7 billion yen, or $64 million, in Nippon Foundry Inc., a UMC Group company. With the move, Sharp becomes the latest integrated device manufacturer to supplement its internal production capability with the services of a pure-play foundry. Sharp's investment will provide almost a third of the funding to upgrade Nippon Foundry's Tateyama, Chiba, fab. In return, UMC has agreed to give Sharp access to its 0.18-micron technology. Starting in the second half of 2001, Sharp will receive 6,000 8-in. wafers a month from Nippon Foundry, increasing to 10,000 wafers a month by 2002.
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Copyright c 2000 CMP Media Inc.
By Crista Souza |
