Asia/Pacific

06/01/1998

Asia/Pacific

Taiwan`s Tatung Group, Taipei, is planning to establish a chipmaking operation in the region, and is hoping the business will generate 100 billion Taiwan dollars (US$3.5 billion) annually, according to Taiwanese news reports. Officials at a US-based Tatung office confirmed the building plans. The company is planning to build at least four chipmaking plants, according to the Economic Daily News.

Singapore foundry Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing is hoping to close the gap on 0.18-?m technology introduction, and come within six months of leading edge chipmakers by bringing up the technology in time for 1Q00. Chartered is about six to nine months behind mainstream chipmakers on a 0.25-?m introduction and 12-16 months behind leading edge chipmakers Motorola, Intel, and IBM. Chartered`s 0.25-?m technology introduction is planned for 3Q98, and full production by 4Q98. The firm is already using CMP processes for oxide and tungsten, and will likely extend the activity to copper and possibly aluminum.

FIB supplier Micrion Corp., Peabody, MA, has opened a new service office in Taiwan, and has partnered with Scientek Corp. to undertake a market development plan. Trevor Moore, director of operations in the Asia/Pacific region, will oversee the new Micrion Taiwan operation. The firm has invested around $1 million in spare parts inventory to support Micrion service to Taiwan-based customers.

SensArray Corp., Santa Clara, CA, has established a South Korean liaison office to increase technical and applications support and local customer service in Korea. Woo Jung Kim will lead company expansion of the existing product marketing focus to provide comprehensive semiconductor process temperature measurement and control solutions.

Taiwanese chipmaker Winbond, traditionally a heavy user of lithography tools from ASM Lithography, has reportedly made a switch to Nikon. The move is said to be a result of Winbond`s recent cooperative deal with Toshiba, which calls for a transfer of process technology from the Japanese firm. Winbond is now the owner of what it claims to be Taiwan`s first step-and-scan lithography system.