Filtronic reports losses and closes US GaAs fab
The Filtronic Compound Semiconductor (FCS) division continued to lose money, recording a loss of £16.2 million ($25.3 million) compared to £14.9 million in the previous financial year. Sales were also down to £7.5 million ($11.7 million) from £11.2 million in the previous financial year.
However, the company said that progress is now being made at its Newton Aycliffe, UK, GaAs fab regarding its agreements with M/A-COM and BAE Systems. A new agreement with Powerwave Technologies should also see increased utilization of the Newton Aycliffe fab (see related stories). In addition, Filtronic said it had successfully demonstrated GaAs-based PA modules to three leading OEMs.
In its financial statement Filtronic also stated that its Filtronic Solid State facility in Santa Clara, CA, is to close. Filtronic bought the Santa Clara GaAs fab from Litton Solid State in 1988 and has used the facility as a GaAs IC design and manufacturing center.
Filtronic s sales and marketing activities in Santa Clara will continue and the GaAs IC design team will also remain at the site. The company is currently looking at its options for the 3 inch GaAs fab including a possible sale.
"With the current market conditions and a state-of-the-art 6 inch fab in the UK we decided that the Santa Clara fab was no longer required," Christopher Snowden, CEO of FCS, told Compound Semiconductor. "We can better serve our customers through the superb yield and quality that we are acheiving in our modern fab in the UK."
