Infineon Technologies Announces Construction of First Phase of 300mm Module at Richmond, Virginia Plant
Munich, Germany and Richmond, Virginia, December 19, 2000 -- Infineon Technologies (FSE/NYSE: IFX) today announced that in order to increase production capacity for leading-edge communication ICs, the company has decided to equip a shell now under construction in its existing Richmond, Virginia plant. Under the first phase, Infineon Technologies Richmond, formerly known as White Oak Semiconductor, will start to outfit the new module with 300 mm equipment. Leading-edge memory chips, which are currently manufactured on the 200 mm line at Infineon Technologies Richmond, will move to the 300 mm line, making existing capacity available for production of communication ICs.
Infineon will equip the fab step by step in accordance with the demand of our customers, commented Dr. Andreas von Zitzewitz, Chief Operating Officer of Infineon Technologies.
Scheduled to begin operations at the end of first quarter 2002, the new module will initially produce 256 Megabit DRAM ICs using 0.14 micron technology, with a fast transition to next generation devices. 300 mm diameter wafers yields approximately 2.5 times more ICs than current 200 mm technology. The 300 mm technology results in a cost reduction per chip of over 30 percent. At full build out, Infineon expects to create over 1,100 new jobs at the Richmond plant.
The State of Virginia has been extremely responsive by providing a performance based grant, training assistance and support for higher education. These are all important to our continued success, explained Dr. von Zitzewitz.
Infineon has proven itself both as a world class producer of semiconductor products, and as a vital and strong member of Virginias business community, said Virginia Governor James S. Gilmore, III. We look forward to continuing the cooperation and partnership in education, infrastructure support and training that have contributed to the growth of the high technology industry in our state.
Infineon Technologies Richmond was founded in 1996 as White Oak Semiconductor. The plant began manufacturing memory IC products in August 1998, less than 18 months after construction began on its first production module. The 800,000 square foot facility, which produces 128M and 256M SDRAM devices in 0.17 micron technology for personal and notebook computers, work stations, servers, communication, computer peripherals and graphic applications, is part of Infineons network of 19 worldwide manufacturing plants. Infineon Richmond employs approximately 1,700 employees. In 1999, the trade magazine Semiconductor International named White Oak Semiconductor Top Fab of the Year.
Infineon will equip the fab step by step in accordance with the demand of our customers, commented Dr. Andreas von Zitzewitz, Chief Operating Officer of Infineon Technologies.
Scheduled to begin operations at the end of first quarter 2002, the new module will initially produce 256 Megabit DRAM ICs using 0.14 micron technology, with a fast transition to next generation devices. 300 mm diameter wafers yields approximately 2.5 times more ICs than current 200 mm technology. The 300 mm technology results in a cost reduction per chip of over 30 percent. At full build out, Infineon expects to create over 1,100 new jobs at the Richmond plant.
The State of Virginia has been extremely responsive by providing a performance based grant, training assistance and support for higher education. These are all important to our continued success, explained Dr. von Zitzewitz.
Infineon has proven itself both as a world class producer of semiconductor products, and as a vital and strong member of Virginias business community, said Virginia Governor James S. Gilmore, III. We look forward to continuing the cooperation and partnership in education, infrastructure support and training that have contributed to the growth of the high technology industry in our state.
About Infineon Technologies Richmond
Infineon Technologies Richmond was founded in 1996 as White Oak Semiconductor. The plant began manufacturing memory IC products in August 1998, less than 18 months after construction began on its first production module. The 800,000 square foot facility, which produces 128M and 256M SDRAM devices in 0.17 micron technology for personal and notebook computers, work stations, servers, communication, computer peripherals and graphic applications, is part of Infineons network of 19 worldwide manufacturing plants. Infineon Richmond employs approximately 1,700 employees. In 1999, the trade magazine Semiconductor International named White Oak Semiconductor Top Fab of the Year.
About Infineon
Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions for applications in the wired and wireless communications markets, for security systems and smartcards, for the automotive and industrial sectors, as well as memory products. With a global presence, Infineon operates in the US from San Jose, CA, in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore and in Japan from Tokyo. In the fiscal year 2000 (ending September), the company achieved sales of Euro 7.28 billion with about 29,000 employees worldwide. Infineon is listed on the DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX). Further information is available at www.infineon.com
Information Number
INFXX200012.025e