Toshiba And SanDisk To Expand NAND Flash Memory Production With Construction Of New Advanced Fabrication Facility At Yokkaichi Operations6 April 2006
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA and TOKYO, APRIL 5, 2006 - Toshiba Corporation and SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) today announced that they have agreed to build a new 300-millimeter (mm) wafer fabrication facility at Toshiba s Yokkaichi Operations to meet fast growing demand for NAND flash memory. The announcement underlines NAND flash memory s position as the storage technology of choice for mobile products and digital consumer devices, including MP3 music players and memory cards for mobile phones, and Toshiba and SanDisk s determination to retain a leading position in this fast expanding market.
The companies plan to start construction of the new facility in August 2006, with initial production operations scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2007. Toshiba will fund construction of the building, while both Toshiba and SanDisk will provide funds for the manufacturing equipment. Fab 4 will be similar in size to the Fab 3 300-mm wafer facility now in operation at Yokkaichi.
The two companies started operation of a state-of-the-art 300-mm wafer fab, Fab 3, in summer 2005, at Yokkaichi Operations, and have proactively boosted the facility s capacity to meet market demand. Today s announcement reflects the companies recognition of the need for construction of a new facility, in parallel with expansion of Fab 3, in order to meet anticipated demand for NAND flash memory products in 2008 and beyond.
Commenting on the new facility, Mr. Masashi Muromachi, Corporate Senior Vice President of Toshiba Corporation and President & CEO of Toshiba s Semiconductor Company, said, "The NAND flash memory market is enjoying rapid growth, to which Toshiba has responded by expanding production capacity. We will maintain leadership in the market through continued proactive capital investments in production capacity and advanced process technology and multi-level cell technology. Fab 4 will further secure our ability to respond to demand for higher-density NAND flash in this rapidly growing market."
Dr. Eli Harari, President and Chief Executive Officer of SanDisk, said, "This announcement is a bold step by SanDisk and Toshiba. For SanDisk, this demonstrates our optimism in the continuing growth in demand for our products in consumer electronics and handsets in the years ahead, as well as our confidence in the continuing future competitiveness of the Toshiba-SanDisk partnership. We believe the Yokkaichi Fab 3 which is rapidly ramping, together with the new Fab 4 will have a highly competitive cost structure. The resulting output will create a formidable supply base that is expected to significantly grow our product revenues from new markets and new geographies in the second half of this decade."
About Toshiba Corporation
Toshiba Corporation is a leader in the development and manufacture of electronic devices and components, information and communication systems, digital consumer products and power systems. The company s ability to integrate wide-ranging capabilities, from hardware to software and services, assure its position as an innovator in diverse fields and many businesses. In semiconductors, Toshiba continues to promote its leadership in the fast growing system LSI market and to build on its world-class position in NAND flash memories, analog devices and discrete devices. Visit Toshiba s website at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm
About SanDisk
SanDisk is the world s largest supplier of flash memory data storage card products. SanDisk, located in Sunnyvale CA, designs and manufactures solid-state data, digital imaging and audio storage products using its patented high density flash memory and controller technology.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements about our business outlook, technological advancements, construction timetables, production schedules and output and effects on financial performance, costs of new fab facilitization, new markets and customers, supply and demand, and sales that are based on our current expectations and involve numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate and may significantly and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in detail under the title "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our 2005 fiscal year.
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SanDisk is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries
Bob Goligoski
Press Inquiries
SanDisk Corporation
408 - 542 - 0463
goligoski@sandisk.com
Source: webwire
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