A new foundry in Europe: Newport Wafer fab

Neptune 6, a newly founded company, has entered into an agreement with Infineon to acquire and run their 200mm wafer fab in Newport, Wales.

A brick to a Cardiff Compound Semiconductor Cluster

By the end of September 2017, the former International Rectifier fab that Infineon inherited when acquiring the company, should be transferred. It was part of the plan when Infineon acquired IR, that this site will either be closed or sold. Neptune is a private company founded for the occasion. The negotiation includes a two years supply agreement for Infineon, in order to smooth the transition from fully owned to fully independent.

Newport Wafer Fab, UK. (c) Infineon

The site will become a key partner in the compound semiconductor cluster in place in this region of the UK, joining and supporting the local involvement of companies such as Airbus, GE or IQE.

A unique case in Europe

European Foundries are rare. Only one actor is still active: X-Fab in France thanks to the acquisition of former Altis Semiconductor fab. Other players have been either acquired, like L-Foundry site in Italy, acquired by the Chinese foundry SMIC, or closed down, like L-Foundry in Rousset, France.