Mykrolis Tabs Boston-Metro

Semiconductor supplier Mykrolis is relocating its headquarters and R&D functions, as well as part of its manufacturing operations, to Billerica, Mass. The relocations to the Boston suburb signal the final phases of Mykrolis' breakaway from Millipore, its onetime parent.
        Based in Bedford, Mass., Millipore is now focusing on providing technologies, tools and services for developing and producing new therapeutic drugs. Spin-off Mykrolis, in contrast, supplies advanced process solutions for gas and liquid filters and delivery systems; those filters and systems are used in the semiconductor, flat-panel, fiber-optic and optical-disc industries.
        Millipore's headquarters in Bedford was also previously home base for Mykrolis. Consequently, the relocation to Billerica represents only a short, six-mile (9.6-km.) trek across the northwest Boston metro. The two locations' proximity is intended to aid in retaining existing headquarters and R&D staff, Mykrolis officials says.
        More than headquarters and R&D personnel, however, will be occupying Mykrolis' new 190,000-sq.-ft. (17,100-sq.-m.) home in Billerica.
        The new facility will also house all the liquid production operations currently performed at Mykrolis' plant in Jaffrey, N.H. In addition, the company will relocate to Billerica some of the liquid production operations that are now performed at its plant in Yonezawa, Japan.

Infineon Increases Auto Market Share

Like the automotive industry model, the importance of the sector to service providers and suppliers cannot be overstated. In fact, German semiconductor firm Infineon plays the role of supplier too.
        In the automobile sector, the company's product range includes power semiconductors, discrete semiconductors, silicon sensors and optoelectronic semiconductors as well as microcontrollers. In a recently published study, the American market research firm Strategy Analytics confirmed that in 2001, Infineon Technologies was the number two supplier of automotive semiconductor products, with a 7.9 percent share of the global market. Infineon's segment revenues of $860 million led the company to a 16.6 percent increase in its market share from one year earlier.
        Infineon was ranked as the number one supplier of automotive semiconductors in Europe, supplying approximately one-sixth of all chips in the segment. According to Strategy Analytics, Infineon has a 14.7 percent share of European segment revenue of U.S. $4.2 billion, largely due to increased electronics in vehicles.
        "Infineon's extensive product range combined with its close links to key automotive electronic vendors, positioned the company to considerably increase its market share," says Chris Webber, vice president of automotive electronics & telematics at Strategy Analytics, "particularly in the areas of semiconductors and engine and transmission control applications."
        Like other connected supply chains, the semiconductor industry may continue to give thanks to the automotive sector for sustaining it through a rough period.