Nanya Technology Corp., Taiwan's second-biggest maker of computer memory chips, yesterday said that it had obtained approval from major customers, including Intel Corp, to make chips using advanced 75 nanometer technology, thereby reducing costs.

This will further strengthen Nanya Technology's lead over local peers in developing advanced technologies in the highly volatile computer memory chip manufacturing industry.

The introduction of 75 nanometer technology would be a further step to improve the cost position of Nanya Technology and Qimonda AG, a spin-off memory chipmaker of German Infineon AG, the companies said in a joint statement released after the stock market closed yesterday.

"The process structure of 75 nanometer further reduces chip size compared to the 90 nanometer technology, [the most advanced technology used to make computer memory chips currently], thereby increasing potential chip output per 300mm wafer by about 40 percent," the companies said.

Recently, memory chipmakers have been making every effort to cut costs by adopting more advanced technologies in order to eke out profits amid price declines driven by overcapacity.

The introduction of the next-generation technology would also allow Nanya Technology to start pilot production on 70 nanometer technology at Inotera Memories Inc's plant by the end of the year as scheduled, Nanya Technology said.

Inotera, a joint venture with the world's second-largest computer chipmaker Qimonda, currently operates a 300mm factory in Taoyuan and is building a second.

Inotera would use the 75 nanometer and 70 nanometer technologies in making high-speed 512Megabit double-data-rate second generation (DDR2) memory chips for computers and DDR3 chips after fully converting its production to 90 nanometer technology early next month.

By: DocMemory
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