First Silicon Engineering Runs Begin at 1st Silicon, Adds US Top 20 Fabless Company to Customer Portfolio
KUCHING, Sarawak Malaysia----Sept. 22, 2000--1st
Silicon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. reached a major milestone towards
qualification and production.
The Right Honorable YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr.) Haji Abdul
Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk J.C. Fong, Chairman of
1st Silicon, together with Mr. Claudio G. Loddo, CEO of 1st Silicon,
today officiated the start of silicon engineering runs at the
company's new 200mm fab.
The start of 1st Silicon's engineering runs represent a major step
towards production qualification, targeted to be completed by end of
this year at the nation's first 200mm fab. This means a great deal to
the people of Malaysia, especially those in the state of Sarawak. The
global semiconductor industry also gains a significant foundry source
to support the hyper-growth in semiconductor demands.
YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr.) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, Chief
Minister of Sarawak remarked, ``It is an extreme honor to witness this
historic event. Malaysia's bold initiative in achieving Vision 2020 as
a significantly improved economy is based on leading-edge
semiconductor manufacturing self-sufficiency. Our nation has put
together the infrastructure, including a very strong emphasis on
educating our people to work in this world-class technological field.
With 1st Silicon's first engineering runs, Malaysia marks its first
200mm foundry semiconductor run in the history of this country. We
congratulate 1st Silicon on achieving this milestone and are excited
about its plans for full production in Q1 2001.''
1st Silicon CEO, Mr. Claudio G. Loddo, remarked at the brief
ceremonies, ``1st Silicon's fab 1 is coming on-line, on time. We
completed hook up at the end of August with great support from our
partners and suppliers. Qualification begins in earnest with these
first engineering runs, and full qualification is expected by the end
of Q4 2000.'' Mr. Loddo added, ``The recent addition of one of the top
20 Fabless companies to our growing customer portfolio shows that our
aggressive accomplishments in making 1st Silicon operational as
quickly as possible is most timely to serve the market demand and
customer needs.''
About 1st Silicon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
1st Silicon is a dedicated semiconductor foundry founded in 1998
by the Malaysian State of Sarawak. 1st Silicon's 200mm wafer fab, with
a capacity in excess of 30,000 wafers per month, will be operational
in Q3 2000. The facility will commence production with 0.25im digital
and mixed signal CMOS technology. Geometries of 0.18m and below will
soon follow. SHARP is 1st Silicon's technology partner as well as its
first customer. The Company has its headquarters in Kuching, Sarawak,
Malaysia, and a US registered subsidiary corporation located in San
Jose, California. 1st Silicon's homepage is www.1stsilicon.com.
NOTE: ``1st Silicon'' and the 1st Silicon logo are trademarks
belonging to 1st Silicon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
Contact:
For 1st Silicon --
S.Y. Tan-Stahel, 408/943-8131
Fax, 408/943-8135
sytan-stahel@1stsilicon.com
or
Second Story Media (PR Counsel)
Lawren Farber, 408/323-1618
Fax, 408/323-1222
lfarber@2ndstorymedia.com
or
MarCom Manager
Allen R. Sangco, +60 82 354 888
Fax, +60 82 363 330
allens@1stsilicon.com
or
www.1stsilicon.com
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