Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Cypress To Close Round Rock Fab

Cypress Semiconductor Corp., a manufacturer of mixed-signal integrated circuits, reported Wednesday that it will close its Fab 2 semiconductor manufacturing facility in Round Rock, Texas, by late 2008. The San Jose, Calif.-based company said it will transfer production to outside foundries and to its more cost-efficient plant in Minnesota. Shahin Sharifzadeh, Cypress' executive vice president of manufacturing, said the company is considering whether to sell the Round Rock fab or simply divest its assets. Cypress said it opened the Fab 2 facility in 1987 with 68 employees and 18,000 square feet of cleanroom space. The plant was expanded to 32,000 square feet in 1999 and currently employs 245 people, Cypress said.