Japan's SEH shuts down 6-in. wafer lines in U.S., cuts 350 jobs in Vancouver
By Mark LaPedus
Semiconductor Business News
(11/30/01 18:02 p.m. EST)
siliconstrategies.com
VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Japanese silicon wafer giant Shin-Etsu Handotai Group (SEH) announced plans to shut down its 6-inch lines in the United States. SEH plans to shift its 6-inch production lines from the United States to Malaysia--a move that impacts 25.9% of its workforce, or 350 jobs, in its U.S. subsidiary here.
SEH America Inc.--the U.S. subsidiary of SEH--on Thursday here announced plans to shift its older-generation, 6-inch wafer polishing lines from its U.S. headquarters in Vancouver, to a sister plant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, according to the company. SEH is the world's largest supplier of blank silicon wafers, it was noted.
The cost-cutting move will be completed by mid-June, said Julie Branford, director of human resources at SEH America. The move will not impact its 8-inch wafer production lines, Branford said. "The 6-inch wafer lines represent a smaller part of our business," she told SBN. "The 8-inch lines is our bread-and-butter business."
The move represents SEH's second layoff in the U.S. in the last several months. In April, it reduced its U.S. workforce by 98 employees, or 6%. |
