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Two former analog fabs long ago owned by Plessey in the UK are now in the operating hands of a recently formed new business, Plus Semi, which has acquired for an undisclosed sum, X-FAB’s wafer fabrication plant in Plymouth, UK. A technology license agreement ensures the continuation of the existing operation.

Hans-Jürgen Straub, CEO of X-FAB Group, said: “We are glad to have reached a solution that continues operation and maintains jobs at the site in Plymouth, outside the X-FAB organization. The sale is an important milestone for optimizing the X-FAB Group’s capacities.”

Michael LeGoff, Plus Semi Managing Director commented: “This has been the culmination of an enormous effort from all concerned to bring these two former Plessey businesses, Plymouth and Swindon, together again. We have retained our key engineering competence within a design and technology centre in Swindon with approximately 20 employees. Together with the 150 people we will employ at the Plymouth facility we have an exciting opportunity to find significant growth in semiconductor design and manufacture in the lucrative analog/mixed-signal semiconductor markets.”

Earlier this year the management of the Swindon foundry in Cheney Manor had acquired the semiconductor foundry business from MHS Electronics UK Ltd (in administration). MHS had acquired this business in February 2008 and the company was subsequently placed into administration in February 2009. Management of the facility put together a competitive bid with JSFM Consulting Limited.

Plus Semi is able to expand its business into analogue product sales.