Intel sells equipment to Nanotech

Intel plans to sell used semiconductor production equipment to Nanotech Corp in a deal which also includes transfer of 0.35 and 0.25-micron technology to the mainland-based chip firm, according to a South China Morning Post report. Intel officials said that the firm has not sold used equipment to mainland firms before. Nanotech will construct a US$220 million factory in Changzhou, Jiangsu province where it will begin production of eight-inch silicon wafers in 2005. The facility will produce 15,000 wafers per month. Analysts said that the deal is part of trend of shifting low-cost, low-end semiconductor production on the mainland.