Photronics terminates photomask operations

Photronics Inc., a subwavelength reticle solutions supplier, plans to streamline its operating cost structure by reducing its North American work force and terminating its photomask manufacturing operations at its Milpitas, California facility. The company's global workforce is expected to be reduced by about seven to nine percent.

According to Daniel del Rosario, Photronics' CEO, the company was forced to undertake such moves because the current global semiconductor industry has not taken up expected recovery patterns experienced in previous cyclical upturns, leaving their customers to remain cautious in managing their inventories and in rolling out new designs. Further, del Rosario said that in implementing these plans, Photronics will be a more efficient supplier of reticle technologies.