Crocus and SMIC Take Steps to Accelerate Availability of MLU Technology Based Micro-Controllers for Next-Generation Electronic Devices
Grenoble, France - Crocus Technology, a leading provider of magnetically enhanced semiconductors and China's largest and most advanced semiconductor foundry SMIC (SMIC; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 0981.HK), today announce a new strategic manufacturing agreement.
SMIC will supply CMOS wafers to produce Magnetic Logic Unit(TM) (MLU) devices at 90 nanometer, 65 nanometer and 45 nanometer nodes, with a path to process the entire flow. The wafers will be used to manufacture embedded micro-controllers based on Crocus' novel MLU technology, which aim to bring significant advantages needed in next-generation electronic devices.
Magnetic Logic Unit(TM) (MLU) is a CMOS based rugged magnetic technology capable of offering important advantages in performance, size and security for embedded micro-controllers. MLUs solutions are used in mobile and security applications, such as smart cards and secure data servers. Crocus' MLUs are also ideally suited to new applications in extreme operating conditions, particularly in high temperature automotive and industrial equipment.
Crocus has placed its first orders with SMIC to supply 200mm CMOS wafers, which will be delivered for magnetic processing by year-end.
"SMIC is one of the leading foundry wafer providers in the world with whom Crocus has been a long time partner," said Bertrand Cambou, executive chairman of Crocus Technology. "With SMIC as a partner supplier of various critical wafers, our production can speed forward, thereby accelerating the availability of MLU-based solutions to our customers in the smartcard and other industries."
In addition to SMIC manufacturing and supplying CMOS base wafers on multiple technology nodes for further processing at CNE, Crocus' advanced magnetic manufacturing facility, SMIC will also supply 300mm full flow MLU wafers, which includes the Crocus' magnetic process layer.
Crocus expects to deliver several hundred million secure micro-controllers to the smart card industry over the next three years.
About Crocus Technology
Crocus Technology is a leading provider of embedded microcontrollers for the mobile and security industry and for applications requiring extreme operation conditions. The company develops Magnetic Logic Unit(TM) (MLU), a CMOS based rugged magnetic technology capable of offering advanced embedded security. Crocus' MLUs read and write faster than Flash memory and have a smaller footprint. This enables Crocus' MLUs to offer significant advantages in performance, security and cost-effectiveness, making them ideal for use in smartcards and other embedded micro-controllers applications.
Founded in 2006, Crocus is led by a senior management team with high-level industry experience from Motorola, AMD, Intel and Gemalto. It has offices in Santa Clara (US), Grenoble and Gardanne (France). For more information, please visit: www.crocus-technology.com
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