Product category: Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and DSPs
News Release from: X-Fab Sarawak
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 23 March 2006
Foundries join together
in Euro-Asian merger
1st Silicon (Malaysia) has merged with X-Fab Semiconductor Foundries, creating a new entity named XFAB Silicon Foundries
1st Silicon is a leading pure play foundry in Malaysia offering logic, mixed signal, nonvolatile memories and several emerging innovative niche technologies. Germany-based X-Fab is one of the world's leading analogue mixed-signal foundries. The combined manufacturing capacity of the merged company will be approximately 700,000 200mm-equivalent wafers per year, and the sales of the new company are expected to exceed US $300 million in 2006.
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 23 March 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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There is a strong strategic rationale for these two established foundries to merge as the manufacturing, technological and marketing synergies are significant.
Moreover, there is minimal overlap in terms of personnel and geographic coverage.
Post-merger, 1st Silicon and X-Fab will have key manufacturing facilities in Sarawak (Malaysia), Erfurt (Germany), Lubbock (Texas, USA) and Plymouth (UK).
Its marketing network and client base will span across the Americas, Europe and Asia.
In the late 1990s, the State of Sarawak invested in 1st Silicon to strategically transform and foster the economic development of the state.
Further reading
Japanese office opens for local support
1st Silicon (Malaysia) has opened a new sales office in Yokohama, Japan, to expand and enhance the company's customer support in the region
AMIC Technology rewards top suppliers
1st Silicon (Malaysia) and its design house partner Integrated Circuit Design Services have won the 2004 Best Supplier award from AMIC Technology Corp
NOR Flash enters production at 0.13um
1st Silicon (Malaysia) has completed qualification and begun production shipment of Sharp Corporation's 0.13um NOR Flash technology
The investment into the wafer fabrication business was a tactical choice to spearhead the state's entry into high-tech and knowledge-intensive industry.
As a result of this, spill-over effects in terms of creation of various clusters and supporting industries have provided a nucleus for growth in domestic human talent pool and high-technology process capabilities.
Over the years, this has enhanced Sarawak's manufacturing expertise and global connectivity.
'The State of Sarawak views this strategic merger and long-term partnership with X-Fab as a powerful union and will further the state's long-term goal to develop its world-class high-tech and knowledge-based sector', said YAB Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister of Sarawak.
'X-Fab's decision to expand their Asian operations from Sarawak is a testimony that Sarawak has successfully transformed and diversified its economic base beyond natural resource and agricultural base industries', added the Chief Minister.
'This strategic partnership signifies X-Fab's long-term commitment and confidence in the State of Sarawak as we believe they have the technological expertise and sustainable pool of well trained local workforce as well as a stable political, social and pro-business environment', commented Roland Duchatelet, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of X-Fab.
Hans-Juergen Straub, CEO of X-Fab stated that he was impressed with the cutting-edge advanced manufacturing facilities and quality of the workforce that 1st Silicon possesses.
'We look forward to working together and to developing an efficient technologically advanced and profitable business model in the mid-term', he noted.
Dr John Nelson, CEO of 1st Silicon added: 'The merger will benefit both parties through long-term financial viability as well as expanding our mutual customer bases because of X-Fab's strong presence in Europe and North America and 1st Silicon's strong customer base centred primarily in Japan, Korea and Taiwan'.
'This globalisation of sales will present new opportunities for growth for both companies'.
The merger is subject to regulatory and other approvals and is expected to be completed by the 3rd quarter of this year.
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