| Sony to Double Production Capacity for Image Sensors |
To meet the rapid increased demand for CMOS image sensors
Investment of approximately 100 billion yen in contemplated acquisition of fabrication facilities and
expansion of production lines
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Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation Nagasaki Technology Center |
Although you may have already known by newspaper reports,
Sony Corporation ("Sony") today announced that Sony plans to invest approximately
100 billion yen in Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation's Nagasaki Technology
Center ("Nagasaki TEC") in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, to increase the
production capacity for CMOS image sensors.
In this article, we introduce the decision to meet increased demand from markets
once more, and send message from Mr. Yasuhiro Ueda, Senior General Manager
and SVP Corporate Executive, who unites Sony CMOS image sensor business
divisions.
* This article is based on the plan and data as of February, 2011.
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 Aim at the increase production
of CMOS image sensors and
further differentiation with other
companies
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This investment plan includes the investment
mentioned below.
(i) The transfer of the semiconductor
fabrication facilities from Toshiba
Corporation ("Toshiba") contemplated
under a non-binding memorandum
of understanding between Sony and
Toshiba jointly announced on December
24, 2010.
(ii) Refurbishment of a part of the above
semiconductor fabrication facilities
into new wafer lines capable of
manufacturing CMOS image sensors.
(iii) Refurbishment and equipment of a part
of production facilities at Nagasaki
TEC Building 3 for wafer processing
to differentiate Sony's CMOS image
sensors with Sony's independently
developed unique technologies. |
First of all, to supplement about (i), the
fabrication equipment to be transferred from
Toshiba to Sony Semiconductor Kyushu are
semiconductor fabrication equipment located
at Nagasaki TEC operated by Nagasaki
Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation
("NSM"), a joint venture among Toshiba,
Sony and Sony Computer Entertainment
Inc. ("SCEI"). Following the execution of the transfer, Toshiba, Sony and SCEI
plan to terminate their NSM joint venture
relationship. And through the investment
plan, Sony will utilize a governmental
subsidy to be provided by the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan - the
"subsidy for programs to promote siting low-carbon
job-creating industries" - mainly in
connection with the investment mentioned in
(iii) above.
Sony expects to solidify its
position as the world's leading
company in CMOS image
sensors and CCD image sensors
These investments will further strengthen
Sony's production capacity for "Exmor" and
"Exmor R" CMOS image sensors in order to
meet increased demand from markets such
as those for smartphones and digital still
cameras. Through this increase of capacity,
Sony expects to solidify its position as the
world's leading company in CMOS image
sensors and CCD image sensors.
As a result of these investments, in addition
to the approximately 40 billion yen
investment in Sony Semiconductor Kyushu
Corporation's Kumamoto TEC (announced
on September 1, 2010), Sony's total
production capacity for CCD and CMOS
image sensors will increase from the current
level of approximately 25,000 wafers per month to approximately 50,000 wafers per
month by the end of March 2012.*1 |
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Reference URL
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/201012/10-165E/index.html
*1: This total production capacity (300mm
wafer basis) includes the output of foundry
operations to which Sony outsources a part
of the manufacturing process. In calculating
total production capacity, the capacity of
200mm wafer production lines in Kagoshima
Technology Center and Nagasaki TEC is
converted for purposes of the calculation to the
new 300mm wafer production capacity basis.
* "Exmor" and "Exmor R" are trademarks of Sony Corporation.
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Sony Corporation Global Headquarters
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