08/07/2007 Much of the technology discussion at this year's SEMICON West focused on the next shrink, either 45nm or 32nm half-pitch, and high-k and metal gates are the innovation du jour, though there are several flavors being tested. Other highlights: the rare sight of actual processing equipment on display; an interesting new tabletop SEM; and wildly popular keynotes about solar opportunities.
08/07/2007 August 7, 2007 - Synopsys Inc. says that it has been selected by Intel to be the chipmaker's primary EDA supplier, signing a multiyear expanded commercial and technology agreement to collaborate on advanced design flows.
08/07/2007 August 7, 2007 - Qimonda AG plans to set up a new memory products development center in Suzhou, China, adding facilities at its existing site for memory IC assembly/testing operations.
08/07/2007 August 7, 2007 - After starting the year with less than 80% capacity utilization rates, major chipmaking foundries are about to find themselves with a shortfall of capacity lasting several quarters, and potential customers need to act quickly to secure needed capacity, according to data compiled by IC Insights.
08/07/2007 August 7, 2007 - Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments accelerated a bit in 2Q07, to nearly 5% vs. 1Q and 12% from a year ago, still being driven by continued 300mm shipments according to the latest data from SEMI's Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG).
08/07/2007 The major IC foundries — including TSMC, UMC, SMIC, and Chartered — will move from 78.5% capacity utilization in Q'01 2007 to 97.5% by Q'04 2007, according to the "August Update to the McClean Report," from IC Insights. This shift signals IC foundry customers to secure Q'04 2007 and early 2008 capacity needs, as space may run out.
08/07/2007 Nanometrics Inc., supplier of advanced metrology equipment to the semiconductor industry, says that Timothy J. Stultz, Ph.D. will join the company as its president and chief executive officer (CEO), succeeding Bruce C. Rhine, who will become chairman of the Board of Directors.
08/07/2007 ApNano Materials Inc., a provider of nanotechnology-based products, has established a subsidiary to develop and manufacture the company's new NanoArmor line of nanotechnology-based bullet-proof products. The new subsidiary will start with products that enhance the performance of personal safety items such as bullet proof vests and helmets, and will continue with protection products for vehicles and aircraft.
08/06/2007 August 6, 2007 - Chip sales during 1H07 were up roughly 2% from the same period a year ago, a couple ticks above full-year projections of 1.8% growth for the entire year, according to the latest data from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), whose "actual" and rolling-average sales both pinpoint significant weakness in the Americas market.
08/06/2007 July 30, 2007 -- /PRNewswire/ -- BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI -- Ecology Coatings, Inc. today announced that it completed its reverse merger with OCIS Corporation on July 26, 2007.
08/06/2007 July 31, 2007 -- /PRnewswire/ -- ALLENTOWN, PA -- Akrion, Inc. recently received an order for a Velocity single-wafer cleaning system from a world leading manufacturer of semiconductor devices.
08/06/2007 August 1, 2007 -- /PRNewswire/ -- ANN ARBOR, MI -- MichBio has completed the program and begun online registration for its MichBio Expo set for October 16-17 in Lansing.
08/06/2007 August 6, 2007 - Rexchip Electronics Corp., the DRAM joint venture between Taiwan's PowerChip Semiconductor Corp. and Japan's Elpida Memory Inc., has started pilot production and aims to ramp output to 30,000 (300mm) WPM by year's end, using 70nm process technologies, notes the Taiwan Economic News.
08/06/2007 July 26, 2007 -- ANN ARBOR, MI, and WEST CHESTER, PA -- Assay Designs, Inc. and VWR International, LLC have announced a new distribution agreement.
08/06/2007 July 27, 2007 -- /PRWEB/ -- DUBLIN, PA -- QuantumClean recently announced that the firm has completed the technology transfer for a strategic joint venture with Singapore-based Champ Asia to create the first Asian facility with QuantumClean's technology standards, QuantumClean Asia.
08/06/2007 August 6, 2007 - Samsung says it has resumed normal full operations of six production lines at its K2 fab in Giheung (lines 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, and S), one day after they were brought down on Aug.3 due to "a switchboard malfunction," though industry watchers have been quick to speculate about potential larger ramifications.
08/06/2007 August 6, 2007 - Nanometrics Inc. has appointed Timothy Stultz, former president/CEO of Imago Scientific Instruments, as its new CEO, taking over for Bruce Rhine who held the spot since March and move to the position of chairman, in a culmination of moves in what the company admits has been a year of "challenges."
08/06/2007 In the first major report of its Nanotechnology Task Force, the Food and Drug Administration has declined to require that labels inform consumers of the presence of nano-sized material in food, drug and cosmetic products. Small Times' Richard Acello reports.
08/06/2007 SATS provider STATS ChipPAC named Jimmy Phoon Siew Heng to its Board of Directors, effective immediately, citing Phoon's financial and investment experience. Phoon is senior managing director and chief investment officer at Temasek Holdings Limited, which has previously bid to acquire STATS, and holds majority stock in the company.
08/06/2007 Omniprobe Inc., supplier of nano-scale failure analysis and process control solutions, has acquired the assets of Oregon-based Ascend Instruments LLC. Ascend provides sample-preparation and -manipulation hardware and software for focused ion beam (FIB) microscopes.
