Numonyx to reactivate ST's 300mm Italy fab

STMicroelectronics' 300mm M6 wafer fab in Catania, Italy, which has been an empty shell for many years, is going to be reactivated by Numonyx NV, the flash memory joint venture between STMicroelectronics and Intel Corp., according to a report from industry organization Semiconductor Equipment Materials International (SEMI).

SEMI's report said it expected the wafer fab to be facilitized soon.

The disclosure was made as SEMI estimated that chip companies are set to spend about $2.5 billion equipping European wafer fabs in 2007, down from more than $3 billion in 2006. However, spending in Europe is expected to increase by 9 percent in 2008, SEMI said.

- Peter Clarke
EE Times