ASM shifts furnace production to Singapore
ASMI estimates its investment at SGD50mn over the next few years on facilities, equipment and manufacturing process development, as well as staff training. ASMI aims to reach an annual shipment level of 100 systems from the Singapore plant by the end of 2006.
This facility will produce its own parts or source locally and assemble the generic subsystems for vertical diffusion furnaces currently handled by ASMI's local contractors in the Netherlands. It also aims to provide manufacturing support to ASMI's US and Japanese subsidiaries for wafer processing equipment products. The initial generic vertical furnace identified for transfer for assembly at the new plant is the A412 system. ASMI aims to achieve full production of its generic A412 system at Singapore by the middle of 2005.