austriamicrosystems (SWX: AMS), a leading global designer and manufacturer of analog integrated circuits (ICs) for communication, industrial, medical and automotive applications, celebrates one year of test development in Plymouth. Since October 1, 2005, the international analog semiconductor manufacturer, headquartered in Austria, is operating a dedicated test development center on England’s South coast.
At the Plymouth location, six highly-qualified engineers develop complex test programs for austriamicrosystems’ analog microchips. These programs are being used to test ICs across all austriamicrosystems business units, Automotive, Communications, Industry & Medical, and Standard Linear, with actual testing carried out at austriamicrosystems’ headquarters in Austria and the company’s Asian test site in the Philippines.
Employing more than 950 staff worldwide, austriamicrosystems continues to grow strongly with 2005 revenues up 11% to 178.4m Euro and net earnings up more than 500% to 23.1m Euro. Further growth is also in the cards for the UK test development center. This year, the highly committed team was extended from four to six test development engineers, and 2007 will see another significant enlargement. “Next year, we plan to have a total of nine analog specialists in Plymouth“, says Thomas Burger, Director Test Development at austriamicrosystems, who has managed the Plymouth team from Austria since April 2006.
Choosing Plymouth as the location for austriamicrosystems’ UK test development center was not a coincidence. “The decision was largely based on the analog know-how available in Plymouth and the comprehensive experience of the engineers in the field of test development, which is very limited across the world“, explains Burger. The team considers itself well prepared for the future: “By the end of this year, we will install in Plymouth two testers of the latest generation, which will assist us in developing reliable cutting-edge analog test programs”, Burger adds.
About austriamicrosystems
austriamicrosystems is a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance analog ICs, combining more than 25 years of analog design capabilities and system know-how with its own state-of-the-art manufacturing and test facilities. austriamicrosystems leverages its expertise in low power and high accuracy to provide industry-leading customized and standard analog products. Operating worldwide with more than 950 employees, austriamicrosystems focuses on the areas of power management, sensors & sensor interfaces, portable audio and car access in its markets Communications, Industry & Medical and Automotive, complemented by its Full Service Foundry activities. austriamicrosystems is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange in Zurich (ticker symbol: AMS). |
