Business

Monday September 24, 2012

Silterra to unveil new chips and system in Q4

By DAVID TAN
davidtan@thestar.com.my


KULIM: Silterra Malaysia Sdn Bhd will release new high value radio frequency (RF) chips and micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) in the fourth quarter to enhance its competitive edge in the global integrated circuits (ICs) market.

Silterra chief executive officer Dr Kamarulzaman Mohamed Zin said in an interview with StarBiz that the chips were sent to customers for qualification.

“The MEMS chips, our new products, are used for data projectors. The RF chips, which are low-noise and low-power chips, are used in laptops and computing devices. These chips should be out in the market in the fourth quarter,” he said.

Silterra's business saw a slowdown this year compared to a similar period a year ago, due to the global economic challenges, Kamalruzaman said after an MoU signing between Silterra Malaysia and the Human Resources Ministry Kulim Hi-Tech Park.

Maznah witnessing the document exchange between Dr Kamarulzaman (right) and Human Resource director-general (department of skills) Dr Pang Chau Leong. Maznah witnessing the document exchange between Dr Kamarulzaman (right) and Human Resource director-general (department of skills) Dr Pang Chau Leong.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan officiated at the signing ceremony.

Kamarulzaman said in addition to Silterra's traditional markets such as Taiwan, the United States and China, which accounted for about 90% of its business, the company had also established its presence in South America and Europe, where there were some highly innovative companies that still required high-end chips despite the economic problems.

”We are spending more this third quarter on research and development activities than previous third quarters to develop prototypes of powerful and energy efficient chips.

”We want to be ready for the consumer electronics market when the economic slowdown is over,” he said.

Under the MoU, Sliterra and the Human Resources Ministry will conduct the National Dual Training System (NDTS) for Silterra's technicians in skills that are required for the semiconductor and electronics industry in Malaysia.

Founded in November 1995 as Wafer Technology Malaysia Sdn Bhd and renamed Silterra Malaysia Sdn Bhd in December 1999.

Silterra broke ground on its first manufacturing facility in Kulim in June 1999. It produced working silicon in November 2000.

Silterra is involved in a broad range of fabrication processes for chips and RF high voltage applications.

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