Epson recently contracted chipmaker Hejian Technology to make its 0.15-micorn LCD drive ICs, making it the first contract buyer to order from the mainland Chinese chipmaker sub-0.18-micron chips. Banned by Taiwan authorities to export manufacturing processes better than 0.18-micron to the mainland, mainland`s factories run by TSMC and ProMOS Technologies are still unable to offer processes below 0.18-micron node. Industry watchers fear such ban will only help mainland`s homegrown chipmakers...

Shares of AMD fell to their lowest level in nearly 16 yearsafter the company disclosed that it will take US$948 million in charges against earnings when it reports its second-quarter financial performance next week...The size of the writedown was a surprise to investors, who sent the share price down 2.4% to close at US$4.84 a share, the lowest price since August 1992.

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have found a way to develop 25nm chip structures with a common lithography process, indicating that chip manufacturers will be able to push out the adoption of an expensive Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography manufacturing process by another chip generation.

Japan's Tokyo Electron (TEL) said orders for its tools to make semiconductors and flat panel display equipment fell a quarterly 35% to a five-year low in April-June on weak demand from memory makers. But the world's No.2 chip equipment maker expects orders to pick up in the current quarter as makers of computer memory chips spend more on production lines to meet year-end demand for faster computers and mobile phones.

Wafer processing equipment maker Aviza Technology has received its largest ever order from a GaAs manufacturer, supplying multiple tools to Taiwan foundry WIN Semiconductor, and says that the deal reflects under-provision of capacity elsewhere. Aviza's Delta fxP CVD tool “We have received multiple system orders in the past from WIN and other III-V customers, but not of this magnitude,” said Kevin Crofton, the senior vice-president of Aviza's product business units.

Applied Materials announced its Applied E3 advanced equipment and process control solution, a comprehensive factory automation (FA) software package for improving the productivity and reducing the costs of semiconductor, flat panel display and photovoltaic solar cell manufacturing. Utilizing proprietary algorithms, the Applied E3 system can boost process capability by more than 30%, reduce unscheduled down time, and shorten cycle time to achieve up to a 20% increase in overall equipment effectiveness.

Rohm and Haas said Thursday it inked a deal to be bought by Dow Chemical for U$78 a share, a premium of US$33.17, or 74% over its closing price of US$44.83 a share in the previous session. The merger values the materials industrial firm at about US$15.3 billion. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. The merger remains subject to approval by the shareholders of Rohm and Haas, as well as regulatory approvals.

"...Paint-on solar panels could boost current energy efficiency by 50%...Using dyes to transport light across a solar panel's surface has been tried before using polymers... The MIT technique represents the first time it has been applied to glass..."

"...Samsung Everland will aim for the construction of a solar-cell plant that will have the potential to produce 20 megawatts of energy...The project would leap ahead of rival LG Solar Energy in production capacity...LG Solar Energy last week completed a solar facility will have a 14-megawatt total output capacity..." "

In a sign that solar industry and its political allies are starting to flex some real power, the federal government reversed course and announced it would continue to accept new applications to build solar power plants on government land while developing an environmental policy for assessing the projects.

In a major change in strategy, Intel has selected Nikon over ASML for a hotly-contested lithography order for the chip giant's 32nm node, according to sources. At 32nm, Nikon has reportedly won the entire lithography business within Intel, leaving ASML out in the cold, source said. The multi-million-dollar order represents Intel's initial scanners, based on immersion lithography. Up until now, Intel had been using "dry" scanners for wafer processing within its fabs.

TSMC is to delay its 40nm process, a bit. It was originally scheduled to start shipping this year, just barely, but now it has been pushed out.