ON Semi plans Ireland R&D center and new jobs

The center will develop controller and driver integrated circuits for next-generation processors in servers, gaming consoles, and desktop and laptop computers.

By Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News -- Electronic News, 7/15/2008

ON Semiconductor plans to establishment a new R&D center in Limerick, Ireland, focused on digital power management and thermal management for next-generation processors.

Phoenix-based ON Semi said the center will develop controller and driver integrated circuits for next-generation processors in servers, gaming consoles, and desktop and laptop computers.

At full capacity, the center will employ 49 people, 28 of whom are already in place. However, while any jobs are welcome in the layoff-ridden semiconductor industry, the 21 new positions compare to 200 job cuts ON Semi announced in March. Many of those cuts impact employees in the United States.

ON Semi has numerous locations in the United States, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, including an established design center in Limerick.

“The success of ON Semiconductor to-date has been based on our competency to manufacture and supply high quality, high volume individual products at competitive cost,” said Bill Schromm, ON Semiconductor senior VP and general manager of computing products, in a statement Monday. “This investment will enable ON Semiconductor to develop its global market share and to successfully compete in the increasingly challenging and ever-changing industry in which it operates.”

ON Semi did not disclose the R&D center investment amount, nor did it disclose when it expects the R&D center to be up and running.

“We are confident that our choice of the Limerick group for this investment is the right decision because of the success of that operation to date and our experience of Ireland’s can-do, flexible, pro-business environment which is ideal for our business,” Schromm continued.

The move was announced with the support of IDA Ireland, as well as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan.