Latest Semiconductor News Update on Mar 24 to 30, 2024

Wolfspeed tops out World's largest SiC fab

Wolfspeed has celebrated the topping out of construction at the $5 billion John Palmour Manufacturing Center for SiC, hosted by Senator Thom Tillis and the other key officials. The "John Palmour Silicon Carbide Manufacturing Center" will manufacture 200mm silicon carbide (SiC) wafers, significantly expanding its materials production capacity to meet the needs of a new generation of semiconductors critical to the energy transition and artificial intelligence.

"We are excited to witness this critical milestone alongside our dedicated team, loyal customer base, community partners, and enthusiastic supporters," said Wolfspeed President and CEO Gregg Lowe. "This facility will further strengthen our role as a carbonization as a global leader in silicon manufacturing. And the center will help maintain the leadership in energy innovation and unlock significant benefits for local communities, promote economic growth and create more jobs."

Dell laid off 13000 workers over the past year

Dell Technologies Inc. cut 13000 employees over the last fiscal year (February 2023-January 2024). Dell had 120,000 employees globally as of Feb. 2, the technology hardware maker said Monday in a filing. That’s down nearly 10% from the previous year. "Throughout fiscal 2024, we continued to take certain measures to reduce costs, including limiting external hiring, employee reorganizations, and other actions," Dell's SEC filing reads. "Despite these difficult decisions, we continue focused efforts to empower our employees and attract, develop, and retain talent."

Weak sales of personal computers prompted an announcement at the start of 2023, when Dell executives said they would cut about 6,650 roles. Ultimately, nearly twice as many were eliminated over the course of fiscal 2024.

Micron breaks ground on Xi'an packaging and testing plants

Micron announced that it has officially broken ground on its new packaging and test facility in Xi'an, further strengthening the company's ongoing commitment to its operations, customers and communities in China. It also announced that the company will establish Micron's first packaging and test manufacturing sustainability center of excellence (CoE) in Xi'an to promote its partnerships in environmental, social and governance (ESG) and achieve global sustainability development goals.

The new project is expected to start production in the second half of 2025 and it will increase production according to market demand. After completion, the total area of Micron's Xi'an factory will exceed 132,000 square meters. It is an important step in Micron's global packaging and testing strategy.

Dutch government to spend $2.7B on enhancing Eindhoven region to keep ASML

Dutch government commits $2.7 billion to enhance infrastructure, education, and housing in the Eindhoven region, to keep ASML happy in the Netherlands. Earlier this month, Dutch media disclosed the news that semiconductor equipment giant ASML was considering relocating. The report quoted sources as saying that the Dutch government had established a secret working group called "Beethoven Operation" to cooperate with ASML. Consultations are underway to address its concerns about local labor supply, regulatory policies and supply chain security in the Netherlands, with more than $2.7 billion expected to be earmarked for development in Eindhoven, where ASML has its offices. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands were also revealed to have joined this special operation and were meeting with ASML CEO for a secret meeting. The theme of the meeting was the Dutch business environment issues that both parties were concerned about.

Stellantis laying off about 400 US workers, citing 'unprecedented uncertantities'

Chrysler parent Stellantis, opens new tab said on Friday it will lay off about 400 U.S. salaried workers as it seeks to cut costs, boost efficiency and ramp up electric-vehicle production plans. The Italian-American automaker said its engineering/technology and software divisions will cut about 400 jobs in the United States effective March 31, or 2% of its global headcount. Last year, Stellantis twice provided "buyout" plans to about 9,000 regular employees in U.S, including providing financial incentives to 6,400 regular employees to let them leave in November.

The company said, "As the auto industry continues to face unprecedented uncertainties and heightened competitive pressures around the world, Stellantis continues to make the appropriate structural decisions across the enterprise to improve efficiency and optimize our cost structure."