16 Taiwan Microchip Foundries Operate OEM Services
November 6, 1998 (TAIPEI) -- A total of 16 wafer foundry plants in Taiwan, including seven pure OEM makers, have begun semiconductor original equipment manufacturing (OEM) operations.
More high-tech companies in Taiwan are entering the microchip OEM service business.
The seven pure OEM semiconductor companies are: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., United Microelectronics Corp., United Semiconductor Corp., United Silicon Inc., Asian Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp., United Integrated Circuits Corp. and Holtek Microelectronics Inc.
Another local maker, Mosel Vitelic Inc., recently announced plans to spin off its six-in. wafer plant into an OEM unit.
IDM makers that are also targeting OEM services include Winbond Electronics Corp., Powerchip Semiconductor Corp., Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp., Nan Ya Technology Corp., Acer Semiconductor Manufacturing Inc. (ASMI; formerly TI-Acer) and Hualon Microelectronics Corp.
So-called strategic OEM makers include Macronix International Co., Ltd. and Promos Technologies Inc.
ASMI announced in October that it had obtained the most advanced 0.25-micron manufacturing technology from IBM Corp. The company is negotiating with several buyers in Taiwan and the United States.
Meanwhile, Nan Ya Technology said it will develop 0.35-micron technology by itself for its wafer foundry OEM operations, and it has already begun experimental production for some clients.
Mosel Vitelic plans to slash its dynamic random access memory (DRAM) output to less than 10 percent of total production, and gradually increase wafer foundry operations. In the initial period, the company plans to target Taiwanese clients. |
