[Tuesday 20 July 2010]

DRAM maker Powerchip Technology has announced an equipment purchase worth NT$1.53 billion (US$47 million) from ASML, which supplies lithography systems.

So far in 2010, Powerchip has disclosed to the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) three purchases of equipment from ASML with a total transaction value around NT$4.55 billion.

Powerchip chairman Frank Huang was quoted in a recent report as saying the company is ramping up production using Elpida Memory's 63nm process, which requires less expenditure on equipment upgrades. Powerchip plans to start deploying Elpida's 45nm design in the first quarter of 2011, according to Huang.

Powerchip has budgeted NT$12.6 billion in capex for 2010, compared to NT$5 billion last year