1999-11-01 , S/IC-2087/12
Business News From Philips Semiconductors

Development lab expands Philips Semiconductors RF product development to meet customers needs

With the unveiling of its Discretes Product Development Lab in Mansfield, Massachusetts, USA, Philips Semiconductors today further confirms its determination to become the number one discrete semiconductor supplier in the world. Already ranked number three worldwide, Philips Semiconductors is establishing its first product development team and lab in North America to focus on RF technologies that will target phone sets, basestations, cable TV systems and U.S. standard-based designs.

"Philips Semiconductors' interest in locating product development capability closer to key customers, in order to further cement relationships, is driving the opening of this lab," said Brian Moran, product marketing manager, RF, Philips Semiconductors. "A physical presence here in Mansfield will facilitate the co-development (with customers) of future products for the discrete market."

The opening of the 7,000 square foot facility will be marked by an onsite ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, October 29. Leon Husson, managing director of the Philips Semiconductors Discretes business unit, will attend and speak on the company's plans to further develop its already successful discrete semiconductor business.

Philips Semiconductors aims to employ 10-12 new design engineers by the end of this year, with a total of 25-30 engineers added by the end of 2000. This will double the current personnel numbers. The Development Lab is adjacent to existing facilities in Mansfield and will include prototype assembly and testing.

As the third largest supplier of discrete semiconductors (Based on Vendor Revenue from Shipments of Total Discretes to the World according to Dataquest's Semiconductors Worldwide Market Analysis report published in July, 1999), Philips Semiconductors is known for providing dedicated solutions for RF applications. The new Mansfield Development Lab will enable Philips Semiconductors to bring its proven technology closer to North American customers, thereby accelerating time to market. This will further solidify Philips Semiconductors' leadership in a market that has endured much turbulence.

1999 has been a year of change for the discrete semiconductor market, as a number of companies departed from the discrete business through divestments and mergers, or restructured company product focus. This has led to some confusion in the marketplace; today, more than ever, customers look for companies that are committed to continued support and development of discrete semiconductors solutions. The Mansfield Development Lab further positions Philips Semiconductors as the market's leader, capable of supporting its traditional discrete product offering as well as providing advanced RF semiconductor technology.

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier based on Dataquest's 1998 report ¹). Discrete semiconductors are central to the company's operations and it is the third largest discretes supplier in the world, with the target of becoming the world's largest. It has a very broad and deep product range grouped into three specific competences: Power, RF and General Application products which cover all application areas. Philips Semiconductors is supported by a worldwide network of systems laboratories and product application groups to develop complete, dedicated solutions to specific customer requirements. Additional information on Philips Semiconductors can be obtained by accessing its home page at  http://www.semiconductors.philips.com

¹) Based on Vendor Revenue from Shipments of Total Semiconductors Worldwide according to Dataquest's 1998 Worldwide Semiconductor Market Share report published in May, 1999.