Foundry for the long haul: Q&A with Tower Semiconductor

Chris Hall, DigiTimes.com, Taipei [Wednesday 24 November 2004]

At the recent Fabless Semiconductor Association (FSA) Expo in Taipei, DigiTimes.com had the opportunity to speak with Doron Simon, US president of foundry company Tower Semiconductor. Simon outlined the particular technical specializations, notably in CMOS image sensors and embedded flash memory, that had enabled Tower to establish a unique identity in the industry. Today, Tower is on the verge of entering the RFID market, said Simon, where it will leverage a knowledge base acquired over 12 years in the industry.

Simon also explained Tower’s agile ability to work closely with its customers, establishing ties and partnerships that might be difficult to maintain at larger foundries. Simon also emphasized Tower’s collaborative role in the design process. As well, he spoke frankly of the economic realities now facing the semiconductor industry, where CMOS process has now proved itself to be remarkably resilient and often the cost-effective choice.