SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Technology Stocks : Applied Materials No-Politics Thread (AMAT) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: advocatedevil who wrote (4708)1/2/2003 8:46:10 AM
From: Proud_Infidel  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 25522
 
Samsung plans $1.2 billion in upgrades

By Reuters
December 31, 2002, 11:35 AM PT

Technology giant Samsung Electronics on Tuesday unveiled a $1.2 billion plan for upgrading South Korean chip facilities to cut costs in the face of a stubborn downturn in the semiconductor industry.
The world's top memory chip maker will invest $1.2 billion on equipment to produce memory chips using next generation 12-inch wafers, the company said in a filing.

A 12-inch (300 mm) wafer can yield more than twice as many chips as an 8-inch wafer, the current industry standard, helping chip makers save production costs in the highly cyclical sector.

"The decision implies Samsung maintains a bullish outlook for the second half of 2003 as it has been more cautious and slower than rivals like Infineon in introducing the next-generation facilities," said Simon Woo, an analyst at Hyundai Securities.

Samsung, currently the only profitable memory chipmaker in the world, had fallen behind in introducing 12-inch lines, even as a record plunge in memory chip prices last year forced the industry to cut costs and seek partnerships.

German chip maker Infineon Technologies and Taiwan's Nanya Technologies said in November they would jointly build a similar wafer plant.