Hyundai freezes Scotland fab

10/01/1998

Hyndai freezes Scotland fab

Hyundai Semiconductor Europe has once again postponed work on its fab in Dunfermline, Scotland, and this time is considering a direct move to the project`s second phase: 256-Mbit DRAMs on 300-mm wafers.

Under the first phase of the Dunfermline project, Hyundai had planned to produce 64-Mbit DRAMs on 200-mm wafers; but portions of the project were put on hold in January of this year in response to the financial crisis in Asia. This latest hold, an indefinite postponement, comes in response to excess capacity in the DRAM market. "Technology has advanced at such a rapid rate it is not economically viable to produce 64-Mbit DRAMs," said a spokeswoman for the company, also noting that "the equipment needed to produce the most advanced chips is still in development."

Hyundai is in the process of reviewing the project plans, and will discuss the details of a new "advanced chip technology" strategy in the coming weeks. - C.L.