X-Fab
Encyclopedia
The X-FAB Silicon Foundries is a group of semiconductor foundries, with headquarters in Erfurt
(X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries AG, is located in the industrial south east area between Melchendorfer and Windischholzhausen). This group specializes in the fabrication of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for fabless semiconductor companies
(hence the name), as well as MEMS and solutions for high voltage applications.
VEB Mikroelektronik "Karl Marx
", which had its headquarters and some production facilities in Erfurt
since 1989. Formed in 1978, this combine
was an association of semiconductor manufacturers in the GDR placed in various locations, including the Zentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden (ZMD).
As result of the German reunification
came the dismantling of the old conglomerate and a partial privatization of the individual enterprises. The facilities in Erfurt
were partially privatized in 1992 (part owned by Melexis
N.V. and Thuringia
), including the X-FAB Gesellschaft zur Fertigung von Wafern mbH (manufacturing) and the Thesys Gesellschaft für Mikroelektronik mbH (design). In 1999, both enterprises were sold to the company ELEX N.V. onwed by Roland Duchâtelet
, a Belgian investor.
Until 2009, the X-FAB group had five manufacturing facilities, but the wafer plant in Plymouth
, United Kingdom
, was semi-sold in December of the same year.
Since 2010 X-FAB only has 4 plants, which are located in Germany
(Erfurt
and Dresden
, in 2007 the ZMD production was incorporated), Malaysia (Kuching
) and in the USA (Lubbock
). The group employs about 2600 workers, and in 2007 had sales of € 299.3 millions. Its CEO is Hans-Juergen Straub.
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
(X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries AG, is located in the industrial south east area between Melchendorfer and Windischholzhausen). This group specializes in the fabrication of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for fabless semiconductor companies
Fabless semiconductor company
A fabless semiconductor company specializes in the design and sale of hardware devices and semiconductor chips while outsourcing the fabrication or "fab" of the devices to a specialized manufacturer called a semiconductor foundry...
(hence the name), as well as MEMS and solutions for high voltage applications.
History
The company was formed with parts of former semiconductor combineCombine
Combine may refer to:* Combine harvester, used in agriculture* Combine car, a type of railway car* Combine , commercial institutions, especially in countries that belonged to the Soviet Bloc* The act of forming a trade union...
VEB Mikroelektronik "Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
", which had its headquarters and some production facilities in Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
since 1989. Formed in 1978, this combine
Combine
Combine may refer to:* Combine harvester, used in agriculture* Combine car, a type of railway car* Combine , commercial institutions, especially in countries that belonged to the Soviet Bloc* The act of forming a trade union...
was an association of semiconductor manufacturers in the GDR placed in various locations, including the Zentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden (ZMD).
As result of the German reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
came the dismantling of the old conglomerate and a partial privatization of the individual enterprises. The facilities in Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
were partially privatized in 1992 (part owned by Melexis
Melexis
Melexis N.V. is a Belgian-based manufacturer of smart mixed-signal semiconductors integrated circuits, integrated sensors and systems .- Activities & Products :...
N.V. and Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
), including the X-FAB Gesellschaft zur Fertigung von Wafern mbH (manufacturing) and the Thesys Gesellschaft für Mikroelektronik mbH (design). In 1999, both enterprises were sold to the company ELEX N.V. onwed by Roland Duchâtelet
Roland Duchâtelet
Roland Duchâtelet is a Belgian businessman who turned his progressive liberal ideology into a political movement that he called Vivant. He also chairs a notable soccer club K. Sint-Truidense V.V....
, a Belgian investor.
Until 2009, the X-FAB group had five manufacturing facilities, but the wafer plant in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, was semi-sold in December of the same year.
Since 2010 X-FAB only has 4 plants, which are located in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
and Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, in 2007 the ZMD production was incorporated), Malaysia (Kuching
Kuching
Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
) and in the USA (Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
). The group employs about 2600 workers, and in 2007 had sales of € 299.3 millions. Its CEO is Hans-Juergen Straub.
See also
- Pure-Play Semiconductor Foundry
- History of the combine VEB Mikroelektronik "Karl Marx" at Erfurt