US$160 million investment in joint venture wafer lab in Germany

Citation

(2001), "US$160 million investment in joint venture wafer lab in Germany", Microelectronics International, Vol. 18 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/mi.2001.21818aab.008

US$160 million investment in joint venture wafer lab in Germany

US$160 million investment in joint venture wafer lab in Germany

Keywords: Standard MEMS, Philips, Wafers

Standard MEMS Inc. has announced a joint venture to build a MOS-8" wafer manufacturing facility for MEMS and integrated discrete semiconductors in Itzehoe, Germany. Other minority interests in the joint venture will be held by the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology (ISiT) and MGB Schleswig-Holstein (a regional venture capital company).

The lab will be dedicated to the production of MEMS and CMOS products using 0.35 and 0.25 micron CMOS processes. Research and development of new MEMS products will also be conducted at the facility in close collaboration with the scientific and engineering staff of the Fraunhofer Institute (ISiT) in addition to other public and private research institutes throughout Europe.

The lab will have a capacity of 300,000 8" wafers per year. Silicon output will be shared between Standard MEMS and Philips Semiconductors, while Fraunhofer ISiT and MGB of Schleswig-Holstein will be strategic, financial partners in the joint venture.

Building of the new lab commenced in December 2000, with the first silicon being produced in the second half of 2002. The new lab will create up to approximately 200 new jobs. The site in Itzehoe, north of Hamburg, Germany has been chosen due to the proximity to Fraunhofer IsiT's existing 6" wafer lab site. This ensures availability of a local (technical) infrastructure and government supportive of high-technology manufacturing.