The Week In Review: Manufacturing


In what was called a defensive measure by some, Intel has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Altera for $54 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $16.7 billion. Here’s what one analyst said about the deal. “We continue to believe Intel’s pursuit of Altera–at a significant premium–was based on a defensive position, rather than the purely accretive str... » read more

The Next Generation Of Wearables


As the wearable market begins to take root, so has the focus on ultra-low power design—with some unique headaches that are unique to wearables. To begin with, there is much attention being paid to this market because of the almost staggering predictions associated with it. While numbers vary greatly, IDC predicts as many as 126 million units will be shipping annually by 2019. The five-year... » read more

Semiconductors By The Numbers


Five economists presented their observations and predictions on a broad range of issues, from cycles to wafer fab materials to geopolitics and how they will affect semiconductor manufacturing at this month's SEMI's Industry Strategy Symposium. Comparing their different viewpoints would be to take them out of context, because their starting points are so different. To avoid confusion, Semicon... » read more

OSI’s Model For Security


In just six years, according to Cisco Systems, there will be 50 billion devices interconnected within the IoT universe. IDC puts that number at a whopping 212 billion. Either way, it really doesn't matter. The fact is that the vast majority will be talking to each other, autonomously, and though the cloud – a nightmare management scenario, no matter how one spins it. The implications of th... » read more

The Week In Review: Manufacturing


Tesla Motors plans to build a new 35-GWh, lithium-ion cell production facility for its electric vehicles. It sounds like a good idea. But the factory will bring about only a modest reduction in battery costs, and could create significant overcapacity in the arena, according to Lux Research. “The Gigafactory will only reduce the Tesla Model 3’s cost by $2,800, not enough to sway the success ... » read more

The Week In Review: Manufacturing


Intel announced two new technologies for foundry customers. One technology, dubbed Embedded Multi-die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB), is available to 14nm foundry customers. Instead of an expensive silicon interposer with TSVs, a small silicon bridge chip is embedded in the package, enabling high density die-to-die connections only where needed. EMIB eliminates the need for TSVs and specialized int... » read more

The Week In Review


Applied Materials announced its fiscal Q3 results. Net sales for the quarter were $2.27 billion compared with $1.98 billion in the same period in 2013, a 15% increase. Net income was $301 million for the period, compared with $168 million in 2013. On a non-GAAP basis, net income was $349 million, compared with $222 million in Q3 2013. The company expects fiscal Q4 net sales to be flat, plus or ... » read more

Defending Against Reverse Engineering


Most of us are familiar with the term “reverse engineering.” We generally know that it is used to extract data or designs from chips, but exactly how is pretty much a mystery. Today, chip security has very broad implications. The landscape of tomorrow will be cluttered with devices that are microprocessor-controlled, including some that are autonomous. Numbers vary, but the current esti... » read more

The Week In Review: Manufacturing


GlobalFoundries’ campus in upstate New York employs over 2,200 workers. It is looking to add 600-800 more people by the end of 2014. The company is seeking out engineers with four-year degrees and technicians with associates degrees. It is also bringing in engineers from IBM to ramp its fab in New York. Applied Materials introduced the Endura Ventura PVD system that helps reduce the cost o... » read more

The Week In Review: Manufacturing


Intel has submitted a business plan to upgrade its fab in Israel, according to reports. Crocus Nano Electronics (CNE), the joint venture founded in 2011 by Crocus Technology and Russia’s RUSNANO, has raised $60 million from its investors. The venture is Russia’s first 300mm fab. This first production line was completed one year after construction began. Currently, 200mm and 300mm CMOS wa... » read more

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