ElevATE Semiconductor and GlobalFoundries Partner on High-Voltage Chips for Commercial and National Security Applications
ElevATE Semiconductor and GlobalFoundries (GF) have announced a partnership to manufacture high-voltage chips at GF's facility in Essex Junction, Vermont, leveraging GF's proven 7HV semiconductor platform. This collaboration aims to meet the growing demand in commercial semiconductor testing and aerospace and defense systems. The 7HV chips, produced on 200mm wafers, offer power management and wireless sensing capabilities, important for various electronic devices in national security systems. This agreement emphasizes GF's commitment to providing a reliable supply of secure, domestically manufactured chips, supporting U.S. semiconductor and national security ecosystems. The partnership will help ElevATE transition its fabrication processes to GF, ensuring robust supply and meeting escalating customer demands.
- Partnership between ElevATE Semiconductor and GlobalFoundries leverages proven 7HV technology.
- Chips manufactured at GF's Essex Junction facility, recognized for reliability and robust yields.
- 7HV platform optimized for cost and performance, offering design flexibility and power efficiency.
- Collaboration supports the U.S. semiconductor and national security ecosystems.
- Transition to GF's fabrication processes ensures robust and reliable supply for ElevATE.
- Production on 200mm wafers meets demand for commercial and national security applications.
- GF's Essex Junction facility is a DMEA-accredited Trusted Foundry, emphasizing secure manufacturing.
- Dependence on a single manufacturing partner may pose risks if production issues arise.
- Transitioning fabrication processes could entail initial costs and logistical challenges.
- Economic or geopolitical factors may impact supply chain stability and material costs.
Insights
The partnership between ElevATE Semiconductor and GlobalFoundries (GF) is strategically significant. Firstly, the collaboration enhances ElevATE's production capabilities by leveraging GF's established infrastructure and expertise. This will be critical in meeting the growing demand for high-voltage chips in both commercial and defense sectors.
From a financial perspective, this alliance is likely to have a positive impact on ElevATE's revenue streams by securing a reliable supply chain and reducing production costs. Moreover, the renewed availability of the 7HV platform chips should lead to cost savings for existing customers, potentially increasing customer retention and satisfaction. The use of 200mm wafers at GF's Vermont facility ensures that production can scale efficiently, which could further improve profit margins due to economies of scale.
Long-term implications include potential increases in GF's market share within the semiconductor industry, especially in sectors requiring secure and reliable chips. This partnership reinforces GF's position as a key supplier to the U.S. aerospace and defense markets, which might attract further contracts given its accreditation as a Trusted Foundry by the DMEA.
The technical alliance between ElevATE and GF revolves around the 7HV semiconductor platform, which is pivotal for applications needing high reliability and power efficiency. This platform is particularly well-suited for national security and aerospace systems where performance and security are paramount.
Technical benefits include the integration of power management and wireless sensing capabilities within a single chip. This reduces the complexity and increases the reliability of electronic systems used in critical applications. The choice of 200mm wafers and the mature-node technology suggest a balance between cost-effectiveness and performance, essential for scaling production without compromising on quality.
Additionally, the robust yields and well-characterized design tools associated with the 7HV platform imply that customers can expect high-quality, consistent output. This is vital for sectors where component failures are not an option. The collaborative effort to reestablish production lines further underscores the commitment to reliability and consistent supply, critical for long-term projects and applications.
Following demand from customers, collaboration will provide a new supply of chips on GF’s power efficient and feature-rich 7HV semiconductor platform
SAN DIEGO and ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt., June 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ElevATE Semiconductor and GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS) (GF) today announced a manufacturing partnership for high-voltage chips produced at GF’s facility in Essex Junction, Vermont. Designed by ElevATE and manufactured at scale by GF on its proven and power-efficient 7HV technology platform, the chips are vital to both commercial semiconductor testing equipment and critical applications for aerospace and defense systems.
The agreement outlines GF’s supply of its 7HV chip technology to ElevATE and the marketplace. Manufactured on 200mm wafers at GF’s Vermont facility, the mature-node chips pair power management and wireless sensing capabilities, delivering the performance, design flexibility and power efficiency required by a range of electronics devices in national security systems. The 7HV platform is optimized for cost and performance, and offers a full suite of features and options with well-characterized design tools, as well as proven manufacturing reliability with robust yields.
To meet the demands of commercial clients and the aerospace and defense industry, ElevATE and GF are collaborating to provide restart support and reestablish the production of 7HV chips. The renewed availability of the 7HV platform will save customers costs, time, and the challenge of redesigning their products using a different chip technology. The new supply will build upon the success of the millions of 7HV chips previously manufactured at GF’s Vermont facility.
“This collaboration marks a significant transformation in ElevATE's production strategy, transitioning its fabrication processes to GlobalFoundries,” said Anil Kodali, Vice President of Operations and Quality Assurance at ElevATE. “With GF as our manufacturing partner, we can be sure of a robust and reliable source of supply, enabling us to meet the escalating demands of our customers in terms of volume, quality and time-to-market.”
“Our collaboration with ElevATE underscores GF’s commitment to ensuring the U.S. semiconductor and national security ecosystems have a reliable supply of secure, domestically manufactured chips,” said Nicholas Sergeant, vice president and head of the aerospace, defense and critical infrastructure business at GF. “As the leading supplier of essential chips for the U.S. aerospace and defense industry and a longstanding partner to the Department of Defense, GF goes above and beyond to ensure our national security customers have the chips they need, manufactured where they want them, with the right level of security.”
GF’s facility in Essex Junction, Vermont, near Burlington, was among the first major semiconductor manufacturing sites in the United States. Today, around 1,800 GF employees work at the site. Built on GF’s differentiated technologies, these GF-made chips are used in smartphones, automobiles, and communications infrastructure applications around the world. The facility is a DMEA-accredited Trusted Foundry and manufactures secure chips in partnership with the U.S. government.
About ElevATE Semiconductor
ElevATE Semiconductor is a leader in the global semiconductor manufacturing industry, offering cutting-edge semiconductor test and ATE solutions. The company is committed to supporting the semiconductor and system test community by providing advanced integrated circuits (ICs) that address the complex challenges of ATE. With a focus on designing efficient, high-density solutions, ElevATE Semiconductor aims to reduce the overall cost of testing for its customers, both now and in the future. Visit www.elevatesemi.com.
About GF
GlobalFoundries (GF) is one of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers. GF is redefining innovation and semiconductor manufacturing by developing and delivering feature-rich process technology solutions that provide leadership performance in pervasive high growth markets. GF offers a unique mix of design, development, and fabrication services. With a talented and diverse workforce and an at-scale manufacturing footprint spanning the U.S., Europe and Asia, GF is a trusted technology source to its worldwide customers. For more information, visit www.gf.com.
©GlobalFoundries Inc., GF, GlobalFoundries, the GF logos and other GF marks are trademarks of GlobalFoundries Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-looking Information
This news release may contain forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. GF undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law.
Media Contacts:
ElevATE Semiconductor
Tim Bakken, Vice President of Global Sales
tim.bakken@ElevATEsemi.com
GlobalFoundries
Michael Mullaney
michael.mullaney@gf.com
FAQ
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