SVGL looks for its first sale in Taiwan
SAN JOSE -- SVG Lithography is trying to penetrate Taiwan for the first
time, negotiating with United Microelectronics Corp. for the purchase of its
Micrascan-III step-and-scan systems, according to sources at the Semicon
West 98 show here this week.
UMC reportedly is interested in the Micrascan system to compete against
IBM, a growing leading-edge foundry competitor which has long used
SVGL exposure tools. For its part, SVGL is hoping to break into Taiwan,
where rival ASM Lithography has been the dominant supplier.
For the first time in several years, SVGL, Wilton, Conn., is in position to
deliver tools to new customers other than IBM Microelectronics ,Intel, and
Motorola, which hade made up the bulk of the lithography firm's production
up to now. Intel deferred a major order for Micrascan systems early this
year after stretching out new fabs in Fort Worth, Tex., and Israel.
The postponed Intel orders came at the very time that SVGL was ramping
up its production capacity. Company officials said that late this year it will
have peak capability of producing up to 200 systems a year.
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