SGS-THOMSON Expands FLASH Memory Capacity

SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics has announced a substantial increase in its production capacity for FLASH memories, with particular emphasis on the 2M and 4Mbit devices that constitute the largest part of the FLASH market today. The Company's manufacturing capacity for FLASH memories increased dramatically during the past twelve months.

“By the end of 1997, our FLASH capacity will have increased even more dramatically," said Philippe Bergé, Marketing Director of the Flash Memory Division. "This capacity increase results from our continual yield improvements, our technology upgrading resulting in reductions in the chip size and in the introduction of new fab capacity."

In the last quarter of 1996, the company started production of FLASH memories at a second fab in Agrate, near Milan, close to its main FLASH fab. SGS-THOMSON is also qualifying a new 8-inch fab in Catania, Sicily, as quickly as possible. This new plant will begin volume production of FLASH memories during the second half of the year.

The increased production capacity has enabled SGS-THOMSON to quote comparatively short lead times for 2M and 4Mbit FLASH memories; for example, the industry standard 4Mbit boot block, dual voltage M28F411 in TSOP40 has a lead time of just three weeks for up to 100K unit volumes.

SGS-THOMSON FLASH memories are used in applications such as PC BIOS, hard disk drives, networking, set-top boxes, automotive engine management and cellular telephones. The company offers a broad range of standard FLASH memories, including plug-in replacements of industry standard, bulk and boot block, dual voltage devices up to 4Mbit and the M29F040 4M (single 5V) and M29W040 (2.7V only). From the second quarter of 1997, SGS-THOMSON will ramp up production of its M28W841, an industry standard, dual voltage 8Mbit FLASH Memory.

According to preliminary figures from industry analyst Dataquest, SGS-THOMSON was the second largest supplier of non-volatile memories in 1996 with 12% of the $6.5 billion market worldwide. SGS-THOMSON is also the market and technology leader in EPROMs, especially in 8 and 16Mbit devices in ceramic and plastic packages.

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