ID :
208814
Thu, 09/22/2011 - 11:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/208814
The shortlink copeid
Samsung starts production of 20-nano class DRAM, NAND flash
(ATTN: UPDATES para 2, 6; ADDS quotes, share price)
SEOUL (Yonhap) - Samsung Electronics Co., the world's top memory chip supplier, said Thursday it had started to mass-produce memory chips based on 20-nanometer class technology in a move to cement its leadership and weather an industry-wide downturn.
The company also started operation of its 16th production line south of Seoul, which it claims is the world's largest memory production facility. The new plant will manufacture NAND flash memory devices for smartphones and mobile devices, it said.
Global dynamic random access memory (DRAM) makers in Taiwan and Japan are producing memory chips based on 30 or 40-nanometer technology. The finer the technology, the cheaper and more cost-effective it is to mass-produce memory chips, which in turn results in better margins.
Samsung's aggressive move to ramp up its chip supply during a severe industry downturn will likely widen its lead over second-tier rivals, analysts said.
Samsung accounted for 41.6 percent of worldwide DRAM revenue in the second quarter, according to IHS iSuppli. Its second-quarter global NAND flash share stood at 41.6 percent.
While Samsung responded to the industry downturn by ramping up production, others in the semiconductor industry have cut back their output.
Global chipmakers are facing increasing pressure to adopt more advanced technology in order to lower production costs, as weak demand for personal computers and the limping global economy has battered prices of DRAM devices this year.
Hynix Semiconductor Inc., the world's second-largest memory chipmaker and also based in South Korea, aims to introduce DRAM chips based on 20-nanometer technology next year. Elpida Memory Inc., the world's No. 3 DRAM maker, claimed earlier this year to be the first company in the world to produce 25-nanometer DRAM chips. Samsung, however, questioned that claim.
The company said its new production line will begin producing 10-nanometer NAND flash memory chips next year.
Samsung's chairman urged the company to be ready for what he says is an "impending big bang" in the semiconductor industry.
"We were able to safeguard our technology leadership thanks to our employees but we must prepare for a storm in the semiconductor industry that could get stronger," Lee Kun-hee said during a ceremony marking the factory's opening.
Samsung plans to shell out 12 trillion won (US$10.4 billion) on the new production line by 2012, making it the highest spending on a chip production line.
Shares of Samsung Electronics closed at 790,000 won on the Seoul bourse, down 2.83 percent from Wednesday's close.
SEOUL (Yonhap) - Samsung Electronics Co., the world's top memory chip supplier, said Thursday it had started to mass-produce memory chips based on 20-nanometer class technology in a move to cement its leadership and weather an industry-wide downturn.
The company also started operation of its 16th production line south of Seoul, which it claims is the world's largest memory production facility. The new plant will manufacture NAND flash memory devices for smartphones and mobile devices, it said.
Global dynamic random access memory (DRAM) makers in Taiwan and Japan are producing memory chips based on 30 or 40-nanometer technology. The finer the technology, the cheaper and more cost-effective it is to mass-produce memory chips, which in turn results in better margins.
Samsung's aggressive move to ramp up its chip supply during a severe industry downturn will likely widen its lead over second-tier rivals, analysts said.
Samsung accounted for 41.6 percent of worldwide DRAM revenue in the second quarter, according to IHS iSuppli. Its second-quarter global NAND flash share stood at 41.6 percent.
While Samsung responded to the industry downturn by ramping up production, others in the semiconductor industry have cut back their output.
Global chipmakers are facing increasing pressure to adopt more advanced technology in order to lower production costs, as weak demand for personal computers and the limping global economy has battered prices of DRAM devices this year.
Hynix Semiconductor Inc., the world's second-largest memory chipmaker and also based in South Korea, aims to introduce DRAM chips based on 20-nanometer technology next year. Elpida Memory Inc., the world's No. 3 DRAM maker, claimed earlier this year to be the first company in the world to produce 25-nanometer DRAM chips. Samsung, however, questioned that claim.
The company said its new production line will begin producing 10-nanometer NAND flash memory chips next year.
Samsung's chairman urged the company to be ready for what he says is an "impending big bang" in the semiconductor industry.
"We were able to safeguard our technology leadership thanks to our employees but we must prepare for a storm in the semiconductor industry that could get stronger," Lee Kun-hee said during a ceremony marking the factory's opening.
Samsung plans to shell out 12 trillion won (US$10.4 billion) on the new production line by 2012, making it the highest spending on a chip production line.
Shares of Samsung Electronics closed at 790,000 won on the Seoul bourse, down 2.83 percent from Wednesday's close.
