Asia/pacific

01/01/1998

Asia/Pacific

Taiwan chip exports. Officials from Taiwan`s Ministry of Economic Affairs said recently that Taiwan chipmakers will export some $28 billion worth of chips in 2005, but at the same time the region will import $20 billion worth of IC products and manufacturing equipment. Taiwan companies will continue to rely on foreign sources for key components and equipment, however, top executives from TSMC, UMC, and other chipmaking firms and government officials are working to change the future. The two groups met recently to establish a development plan for the region`s chip industry, according to reports by the China Economic News Service.

Macronix International Co. Ltd., Hsinchu, Taiwan, and Matsushita Electronics Corp. have signed a wafer manufacturing agreement, under which Matsushita will provide design information and memory process technology, and Macronix will provide manufacturing capability and facility at its second wafer fab plant in Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park. The agreement is the first step in a series of future cooperation efforts that will cover sales, marketing, manufacturing, advanced process technology development, memory, and logic for multimedia products.

K.C. Tech Co. Ltd., a $140 million trading and manufacturing company in Seoul, South Korea, opened a US subsidiary, K.C. America-Tech Inc., Fremont, CA. This US branch will supply high purity gas, chemical, environmental, and ulta pure water systems, services, and related technologies to the US semiconductor and high technology markets. Equipment, such as distribution systems, purifiers, and scrubbers, will be manufactured by K.C. Tech`s factory in Anseong.