AMI Semicon allocates P2.2B for expansion program

AMI Semiconductor Philippines Inc. has allocated P2.2 billion for its expansion program from 2007 to 2009.

Dennis Ibarra, AMIS Philippines president and managing director, told reporters that this is in line with the expected growth in export revenues from $320 million last year to $400 million this year and $550 million in 2008.

The expansion, Ibarra said, is needed as the Philippine unit of the American maker of application specific integrated circuits (ACIS) continues to expand its product lines after it inherited some business from its Idaho plant and the China facility that was shut down.

Ibarra said the AMIS is spending P1 billion for its expansion plan this year, another P600 million next year and P600 million more in 2009.

From producing only less than 1,000 products in 2006, Ibarra said the ACIS lines that they are manufacturing in its Calamba, Laguna facility will expand by at least 500 more new products every year.

This would entail acquisition of new equipment, hiring additional employees, power generation system, setting of new laboratories and extension of its current 140,000 square feet space to 185,000 square feet.

From producing about 100 million integrated circuits last year, the plant is poised to produce 175 million units this year and then grow this again to 250 million units in 2008.

Also, in terms of wafer sorting, Ibarra said the volume will go up from 100,000 units in 2006 to 200,000 this year and 300,000 in 2008.

AMIS Philippines is manufacturing integrated circuits for equipment used in telecommunications, automotive, hospitals, among others.

On Wednesday, AMIS inaugurated its new facility in the Carmelray Industrial Park in Calamba, Laguna.