STMicro starts to build $1.5 billion flash fab in Italy
Semiconductor Business News
(02/19/01 09:50 a.m. PST)
CATANIA, Italy -- STMicroelectronics here has begun construction of a high-volume wafer fab to produce advanced flash memories and other nonvolatile ICs with a new 0.13-micron process technology. The European chip company said it will complete the M6 facility within 24 months and plans to invest $1.5 billion in the fab during the next several years.
During a dedication ceremony over the weekend, STMicroelectronics officials said the new fab will initially start production with 200-mm (8-inch) diameter wafers, but the new chip plant it designed to accommodate 300-mm (12-inch) tools. The fab will be ramped to a capacity of 9,000 eight-inch wafers per week, said STMicroelectronics.
In addition to building the new plant at the Catania site, the company said it continues to expand its large M5 fab, which was started up about three years ago to produce nonvolatile memories. ST plans to increase the M5 fab's output to 5,500 wafers per week during 2001. About 14 months ago, the fab was fabricating 3,300 wafers per week, according to the company.
The new M6 facility will migrate from 0.13- to 0.10-micron process technology for nonvolatile memories and flash devices, ST said. When running at full capacity, the new plant will bring ST's total employment in Catania to 5,500 workers
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