Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

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: Fred Levine who wrote (6264)	6/11/2003 8:43:31 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 25522

Taiwan Formosa, Japan Komatsu JV Plans NT$10 Billion Wafer Plant Wednesday June 11, 12:51 am ET TAIPEI -(Dow Jones)- A joint venture of one of Taiwan's largest conglomerates, the Formosa Group, and Japan's Komatsu Electronic Metals Co. plans to invest NT$10 billion (US$1=NT$34.695) in a new 12-inch semiconductor wafer plant, an official at the Formosa Group head office in Taipei said Wednesday. The joint venture, Formosa Komatsu Silicon Corp., will use the plant to produce the larger, dinner plate-sized silicon wafers upon which microchips are made. The official said the plant will be built in Taiwan's Mailiao township. The plant's construction schedule hasn't been finalized, but work could begin later this year or early next year, depending on the fortunes of the semiconductor industry, he said. Semiconductor companies have been in a long recovery cycle ever since the global chip market saw revenue plummet by nearly a third in 2001, its worst drop ever. A number of companies in Taiwan produce chips on 12-inch wafers, including foundry chip giants Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and United Microelectronics Corp. . These companies carve microchips onto wafers made by companies like Formosa Komatsu. The latter company was formed in the mid-1990's as growth in Taiwan's chip industry took off. It already operates another plant that produces smaller wafers.