Texas Instruments (TI) has acquired two wafer fabs and manufacturing equipment located in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Japan, from Spansion Japan for an undisclosed sum, according to the company. With the new capacity, it expects to satisfy growing demand for analog semiconductors.
"This latest addition of analog capacity will further increase TI's ability to support our customers' growth now and in the future," said Gregg Lowe, senior VP in charge of the company's Analog business.
The purchase includes an 8-inch wafer fab currently in operation that is capable of expanding TI's analog revenues by more than US$1 billion annually, as well as a second non-operating wafer fab of equal size for either 8- or 12-inch production, TI said. It also includes 12-inch production tools, many of which will be moved to Richardson, Texas to help complete Phase II of RFAB, a 12-inch analog wafer fab that commenced operation in October 2009.
A portion of the 300mm tools that come with the acquisition in Japan are not needed for TI's advanced analog technology processes and will be re-sold, TI added.
This acquisition is the most recent in a series of analog manufacturing expansions announced by TI over the past 24 months, which collectively will add capacity for more than US$3.5 billion of additional analog revenue per year when fully operational, according to TI.