To: Donald B. Fuller who wrote (1829 ) 2/11/1999 2:24:00 PM From: Donald B. Fuller Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 3069
From Nov 1998... "Veeco Process Metrology Announces the Semiconductor Industry's First Automated 300mm Stylus Profiler with FOUP C" ...Fast Forward To: Bruce A. Thompson (4196 ) From: Ian Stromberg Thursday, Feb 11 1999 9:46AM ET Reply # of 4197 Motorola, Siemens Chip Factory Completes Initial Production Run By a WALL STREET JOURNAL Staff Reporter SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- Motorola Inc. and Siemens AG said they have completed initial production of chips in a prototype chip factory in Dresden, Germany. The companies said they had completed production of memory chips on wafers that are 12 inches in diameter, rather than the current eight inches. Bill Walker, senior vice president at Motorola, said the development shows the company is making good progress toward its goal of mass production on the new manufacturing lines in 2001. Company Profile: Motorola Motorola started working on the 12-inch technology in 1994, but it postponed mass production last year and delayed the opening of a $3 billion chip complex in West Creek, Va., because of a chip recession. The company now plans to use 12-inch wafers at the West Creek complex once it restarts construction. Mr. Walker said the 12-inch factories should cost about $2 billion to build, compared with Thursday's $1.5 billion eight-inch factories. However, he noted that an equivalent 12-inch factory could produce 2.5 to three times more chips than an eight-inch factory. ... DF Comment: Hmmm ... VECO ... A 300 mm semi equip play in addition to a GMR DD play ... One company positioned at the right spot to draft off not one but two secular tech trends .... No growth there I suppose ...