Week In Review: Semiconductor Manufacturing, Test


Intel dropped out of a $5.4 billion deal to purchase Tower Semiconductor in Israel. Intel cited the inability to obtain regulatory approval in a timely manner as the reason for ending the deal signed in February. Intel will pay a $353 million termination fee to Tower. The silicon wafer supply has moved back into positive territory for 2023 thanks to a 7% decline in wafer shipments combined w... » read more

Week In Review: Automotive, Security and Pervasive Computing


The Biden administration uncorked a fueling station locator tool to help consumers locate charging stations by fuel type, a plan to install 24,000 charging stations at federal facilities by next fiscal year, as well as other clean energy commitments. Source: Department of Energy: Alternative Fuels Data Center & Station Locator Europe is making progress on a plan that requires all ... » read more

Week In Review: Auto, Security, Pervasive Computing


North Americas’s first zero-emission hydrogen-powered “Train de Charlevoix” will start running in Canada this summer, with speeds up to 85 mph, only emitting water vapor. Germany rolled out the world’s first passenger train fleet in 2022. The U.S. Department of Energy announced the availability of $750 million for R&D to further clean hydrogen technologies, part of the Biparti... » read more

The Good And Bad Of Bi-Directional Charging


Auto OEMs are starting to offer bi-directional charging in EVs, allowing batteries to power homes during outages or wherever else it is needed, and to smooth out any hiccups in the grid. But this technology also can shorten the lifetime of batteries, and it can open the door to more cyberattacks. The idea behind bi-directional charging is simple enough. EVs can store huge amounts of power, a... » read more

Week In Review: Design, Low Power


Earnings and Acquisitions Siemens will acquire Avery Design Systems, a simulation-independent verification IP supplier, in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Siemens executives say the acquisition will “enhance Siemens’ offerings across mainstream verification IP segments, while further extending Siemens verification solutions into area... » read more

Week In Review: Auto, Security, Pervasive Computing


Automotive, mobility Siemens Digital Industries Software and climate-tech company sustamize devised a way to add carbon emissions data to Siemens Xcelerator. Siemens created its Teamcenter Carbon Footprint Calculator software to help teams measure, simulate, reduce, and track their product carbon footprint early in the development phase. The calculator uses sustamize’s Product Footprint Engi... » read more

Week In Review, Manufacturing, Test


Post-CHIPS Act Micron is discussing a potential new fab that could employ thousands of workers, following the passage of the Chips and Science Act. Idaho is hoping it will be built near its headquarters facilities in Boise, but Micron hasn’t committed publicly. Rob Beard, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Micron, told the Idaho Statesman the company is consi... » read more

Manufacturing Bits: Feb. 15


Strong plastics The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a new material that is stronger than steel but is light as plastic. The new material, which can be made in large quantities, involves a two-dimensional polymer that self-assembles into sheets. The material’s Young modulus—or a measure of how much force it takes to deform a material—is between four and six times gr... » read more

Manufacturing Bits: Dec. 6


China’s rare earth power play Rare earth elements (REEs) are back in the news. China, the world’s largest supplier of rare earths, plans to combine three domestic vendors to create a large state-owned company with a nearly 70% share of the REE market, according to reports from Nikkei and others. In 2020, China in total accounted for 85% of global production of refined REEs, accordi... » read more

Manufacturing Bits: Nov. 16


New hybrid EUV photoresist The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the winners for a recent entrepreneurial technology competition, including the development of a new EUV hybrid resist and an antibody therapeutics platform. The event, called the National Lab Accelerator Pitch Event, involved a competition among 11 researchers within the DOE’s national labs. Researchers pitched ... » read more

← Older posts