DuPont and UMC Finalize Photomask Joint Venture

-- Semiconductor International, 11/1/1998

DuPont Photomasks, Inc. (DPI) and UMC Group finalized a merchant photomask joint venture to produce photomasks in Taiwan. Named DuPont Photomasks Taiwan, Ltd., the joint venture is majority owned by DPI and will operate initially from UMC Group's existing photomask production facility in Taiwan's Hsin-Chu Science-based Industrial Park. The venture employs 40 people and plans to invest ($50 million over the next year, including upgrading the infrastructure and installing new photomask production equipment to support 0.25 µm design rules and below.

DuPont Photomasks Taiwan, Ltd. also plans to build a new, stand-alone photomask production facility in Taiwan to accommodate high volume, commercial production of sophisticated photomasks used for imaging of 0.18 µm and below integrated circuits.