TOKYO - Japan's Sony Corp. plans to shut down a wafer fab in San Antonio, Texas--a move that impacts part of the company's foundry efforts, according to reports from Reuters today (March 31, 2003).
The action will also affect some 600 jobs within Sony's San Antonio's operations, although the Japanese consumer electronics giant said employees were being encouraged to apply for positions within the company, the report said. Sony Electronics employs about 20,000 people in North America.
The company informed workers on Friday of the plan to halt production at the plant by the end of September.
The fab operations had been part of Sony Semiconductor San Antonio, the U.S. silicon foundry division of chip maker Sony Electronics. The San Antonio, Tex.-based foundry operation is part of consumer-electronics giant Sony Corp. of Tokyo.
The company operated two fabs in Texas, including 5- and 6-inch plants. The fabs were acquired several years ago from Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
While it's unclear which fab or fabs were shut down by Sony in the United States, it's unlikely that the company has completely bailed out of the foundry business.
Sony Electronics has been in the silicon foundry business for years. In 2001, the company opened up its fabs in Japan for foundry services (see Oct. 10, 2001 story ).
RSS
Digital
10 emerging technologies to watch:
EE Times has compiled a list of emerging technologies that we think will be worth watching out for in 2010. Biofeedback or thought-control of electronics are among the contenders.
Hot applications in 2010:
We've compiled a list of 10 technology applications you should watch for in 2010, ranging from e-book readers to 3-D TVs. We examine the features that make these apps so compelling as well unresolved issues.
Top 25 predictions for semis in 2010:
2010 is just beginning to unfold in the electronics industry. Looking into our crystal ball, we have released our own chip forecasts--and other predictions--for 2010.
Seven things to fix in 2010:
The editors of EE Times came up with their own informal list of things we hope engineers fix in 2010, spanning everything from nano-lithography to space travel. What do you want to see get done this year?
'09 moves that are shaping the future:
This was a brutal year, but the industry gets a nod for showing grace under fire. Here's our Top 10 guide to the coming year, illustrating what to expect in 2010.
10 CEOs out in 2009:
It's been a tough year for the global electronics industry and CEOs. We survey the dismissal of 10 industry CEOs during the first three quarters of 2009 and what's ahead for the rest of the year.
Notable women in microelectronics:
There is no better time than a global economic recession to examine the keys to successful corporate governance. So, EE Times has compiled an international list that celebrates women who are business and technology leaders in semis.
EE Times updates Silicon 60:
Seventeen companies have been added to the lastest version of our Silicon 60 list of emerging startups. Forty-three companies survived as emerging companies that are still worth watching.
RSS| 
Digital| 
Mobile
