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US support vendor to open Vietnam technology center


Jonathan Hopfner
EE Times
(07/17/2007 4:02 PM EDT)


SINGAPORE -- California-based semiconductor support-services provider Global Equipment Services (GES) received a license July 12 to build a technology center in Vietnam, underscoring the rapid development of that country's electronics industry.
GES Vietnam plans to spend about $36 million to construct a manufacturing and training center in the Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP), in the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, which will also soon be home to the largest assembly and test plant in Intel's global network.

The GES facility will be operational by September 2008 and will employ some 500 local engineers.

The 6,000-square-meter center will perform a variety of functions, including upgrading and design modification for semiconductor and flat-panel manufacturing equipment and training engineers to service equipment in other locations.

GES executive vice president Marty Mason told EE Times the company would only occupy part of the facility; it plans to lease out space to other firms.

The company is expecting a solid customer base in the Vietnam and the Hi-Tech Park, as more investors set up shop there. Renesas and Jabil Circuit are among the other companies planning new facilities in the zone.

"Although infrastructure is just beginning to develop, it won't be long with a customer like Intel driving the schedule for required functionality," Mason said. "There are already several factories up and running in the SHTP, including device manufacturers and technology developers. . . . We would expect Vietnam to follow a similar model to China in opening up more electronics assembly and manufacturing first, and then the semiconductor production will follow to supply the content."


http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201001848