January 15, 2008 — Freescale Semiconductor has established an advanced microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) 200-mm (8-inch) production line to address growing sensors market demand. The newly added line at Freescale’s Oak Hill Fab in Austin, Texas, complements the company’s existing 150-mm (6-inch) MEMS capacity in Sendai, Japan.

High-volume MEMS manufacturing expertise remains critical as the MEMS sensor market continues to grow, Freescale says. The company has produced MEMS-based sensors for more than 25 years and is a leading high-volume sensor provider with an extensive portfolio of acceleration, pressure and proximity sensors. Freescale offers advanced embedded control capabilities with an extensive product portfolio that enables comprehensive sensing, control, connectivity and analog solutions.

“As customers continue to demand low-cost, robust and highly functional sensors in smaller form factors, Freescale’s additional 200-mm MEMS manufacturing line will certainly help to satisfy the upsurge of application opportunities in the price-sensitive automotive, industrial, medical and consumer markets,” said Demetre Kondylis, vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Sensor and Actuator Solutions Division. “As a high-volume sensor manufacturer, Freescale is committed to being a dependable source of top-quality sensor products.”

The advanced 200-mm capacity will allow Freescale to explore and integrate new MEMS capabilities and address major competitive challenges, such as power consumption, cost effectiveness and form factors.