NEC-Hitachi Memory Brands Itself, "Elpida Memory"
Announces World's First 0.13-micron 256Mb DRAM
TOKYO, Japan, September 28th, 2000- NEC-Hitachi Memory, Inc., the DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) joint venture company formed between NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l) and Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), has branded itself "Elpida Memory, Inc." Elpida Memory fuses two distinguished lineages into a passion for excellence in innovation and dependability as an industry leading DRAM producer. . The name reflects a commitment to the pursuit of excellence represented by the ancient Greek root word 'elpis' meaning 'expectation', achieved by Dynamic Association with NEC and Hitachi. Elpida Memory's mission is to exceed the expectations of its customers, employees and parent companies alike, through 'the power of focus'.
Elpida Memory has garnered the best DRAM management team in the industry to implement its focused DRAM business strategy and the company plans to combine the best sales practices with their inherent technology leadership position to service the high-end PC and server markets, as well as the growing market for DRAM in emerging communications platforms.
As the first stage in this ambitious plan, Elpida Memory began design operations from April 1, 2000 with the 200 engineers based at its development center in Sagamihara, Japan of memory products using a 0.13-micron design rule. Elpida has completed the development of the first of these products, a 256Mb DRAM that is half the size of equivalent current generation products based on a 0.18-micron rule, the world's smallest at this memory density.
The new memory chip will be available as both a synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) and as a double data rate (DDR) SDRAM, with low latency and high data transfer rates. The devices achieve low metal resistance enabling high-speed memory core functions and employ an advanced hemispherical grain (HSG) structure to build the most compact memory cells. Development of other higher density SDRAM and DDR SDRAM, as well as Rambus DRAM and Virtual Channel Memory products, is also ongoing.
The Elpida 0.13-micron 256 Mb DRAM will begin sampling in the first quarter of 2001 and is expected to enter volume production from spring 2001 with output reaching five million units per month by December 2001.
The company currently employs approximately 200 people worldwide and is expected to have a staff of 750 people by April 2001, drawn from NEC and Hitachi.
"The merger is progressing smoothly in each region and according to the schedule we set in June of 1999," proclaimed Kenji Tokuyama, president of Elpida Memory, Inc. "Elpida Memory brings together the best memory technology and worldwide, first-class engineering resources from both NEC and Hitachi that provide better economies of scale for more rapid and efficient development and global production. Since we are focused on DRAM, our customers will benefit from more technically advanced DRAM products, more rapid introduction of shrink versions, continued packaging and circuit innovations, dedicated customer service and support, and the same high quality and dependability that they would have expected from either NEC or Hitachi. Elpida Memory is poised to achieve an even greater presence in the DRAM marketplace."
About Elpida Memory, Inc.
Elpida Memory, Inc. (formerly NEC-Hitachi Memory, Inc.) is a global corporation with its headquarters based in Tokyo, Japan, and sales and marketing operations to be located in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Elpida Memory was officially formed on December 20th, 1999. Research and development operations were merged from NEC and Hitachi on April 1, 2000, and sales and marketing operations will commence on January, 2001. Elpida Memory's entire product line-up will be marketed under the Elpida brand name and will include DRAM devices and modules inherited from both NEC and Hitachi, as well as products designed and developed by Elpida as they become available for production. The company is currently involved in developing leading-edge DRAM products based on 0.13-micron process technology. Elpida's main DRAM production centers are located at NEC Hiroshima and Hitachi Nippon Steel Semiconductor Singapore.
Information in this news release is current as of the timing of the release, but may be revised later without notice.