Zetex "Fab Lite" expansion chip manufacturing outsourcing

One of the the only British chip maker, analog chip and discrete devices currently Zetex professional manufacturers turned to the outsourcing strategy, will take the "Fab Lite" (fab-lite) route. The company's chief executive officer Hans Rohrer said that with the development of time will increase the proportion of outsourcing projects.

Rohrer joined Zetex in February 2006, the day before the interview asked about half of Zetex's financial performance in 2006. Zetex was acquired in 2005 by the German Mikron company, which has been part of the chip by TSMC (TSMC) OEM production. Rohrer said, Zetex uses a relatively mature technology to create analog chips, and has a special processing technology. Even so, the company is not likely to invest in the construction of its own fab, but choose to cooperate with the wafer foundries.

He said, Zetex is the consolidation of the factory, has shut down the old factory has a complete historical mission, and unified manufacturing business to Zetex technology park.

In the future, Rohrer see a lot of opportunities to improve business performance, through the method of centralized suppliers, in cooperation with IP and other innovative business, these improvements may to 2008 and 2009 to the financial performance. Rohrer stressed that Zetex will not rush to give up its own internal chip manufacturing. Ultimately, though, there is an impact, but Rohrer says it is not entirely within a few years to shut down its own fab.

With industrial development, Rohrer said some warning information has been aware of other larger semiconductor companies currently displayed. And other macroeconomic and political issues, such as disputes in the Middle East and the Far East, are likely to have an impact on the next few quarters.