News Main v Final DR 18/12/08 10:51 Page 12
12
NEWS DESK
Dow eliminates 5000 jobs
but expands business
Not so
ancient
THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY global workforce. Once fully implemented,
scrolls
accelerates its implementation of its these actions are expected to result in
transformational strategy. A new $700 million in annual operating cost
streamlined operating model is meant to savings by 2010 and are additional to the THE FLEXIBLE DISPLAY CENTRE
reflect a new portfolio and the current previously announced cost synergies of (FDC) at Arizona State University
economic situation. Dow still plans to buy $800 million in the same time frame for (ASU) and HP announced the first
Rohm & Haas. the Rohm and Haas acquisition. prototype of affordable, flexible
Dow’s transformation to a lean In addition, reflecting poor current electronic displays. Flexible displays
corporate centre, a shared business market conditions, Dow will temporarily are paper like computer displays made
services group and three business idle approximately 180 plants and almost entirely of plastic. The
operating models, effective January of significantly reduce its contractor production feat is a milestone in the
2009, will accelerate the company’s workforce worldwide by approximately industry’s efforts to create a mass
ability to shed high cost assets and 6,000 as predicated by reduced market for high resolution flexible
centralised functional structures. As part operations. displays. Plus, from an environmental
of the actions announced, Dow will The new Dow will comprise three standpoint, the displays leapfrog
eliminate approximately 5,000 full time different business operating models: joint conventional processes by using up to
jobs, close 20 facilities in high cost ventures/asset light; performance 90 percent less materials by volume.
locations and divest several non strategic products; and health & agriculture, Mass production of such displays
businesses. The job reductions represent a advanced materials and other market can enable production of notebook
reduction of roughly 11 percent of Dow’s facing businesses. computers, smart phones and other
electronic devices at much lower costs
since the display is one of the more
costly components. The unbreakable
SiCrystal selects Eyelit software displays were created by the FDC and
HP using self aligned imprint
EYELIT, a manufacturing software lithography (SAIL) technology
provider for visibility, control, and co- invented in HP Labs, HP’s central
ordination of manufacturing operations research arm. SAIL is considered ‘self
for the aerospace & defence, electronics, aligned’ because the patterning
semiconductor, and solar industries, information is imprinted on the
announced that SiCrystal, a European substrate in such a way that perfect
manufacturer of silicon carbide (SiC) alignment is maintained regardless of
wafers, has selected Eyelit’s enterprise process induced distortion.
manufacturing and quality suite. SAIL technology enables the
Eyelit’s solution replaces an internally fabrication of thin film transistor
developed system, improves product arrays on a flexible plastic material in
visibility and supports increasing a low cost, roll to roll manufacturing
production volumes. Systema will lead the process. This allows for more cost
implementation of Eyelit’s solution at effective continuous production, rather
SiCrystal, as well as provide local than batch sheet to sheet production.
European product support. The first practical demonstration of
“We found the Eyelit solution much the flexible displays was achieved
more flexible and a better fit for our IT with Systema. We already have several through collaborative efforts between
architecture. We needed better projects under way with Systema, the FDC and HP as well as other FDC
operational information, especially encompassing MES implementation, partners including DuPont Teijin Films
detailed material and equipment factory automation, and material and E Ink. To create this display, the
information; we also felt we could handling. This selection expands Eyelit’s FDC produces stacks of semiconductor
implement Eyelit faster than other successful distribution partner network. materials and metals on flexible
solutions at a much lower cost. In We will be adding partners in Asia soon, Teonex Polyethylene Naphthalate
addition, Eyelit’s solution is much easier as we continue our rapid growth and substrates from DuPont Teijin Films.
to manage and one that could expand global expansion. Eyelit offers a proven HP then patterns the substrates using
with our growing business. We also liked solution which takes advantage of new the SAIL process and subsequently
the flexibility both Eyelit and Systema technologies, such as open source Linux. integrates E Ink’s Vizplex imaging
showed during the sales process and feel This allows for dramatically lower costs film to produce an actively addressed
confident they are the right partners for than legacy MES solutions, which require flexible display on plastic. E Ink’s
SiCrystal for this mission critical fixed, complex architectures running on Vizplex bi-stable electrophoretic
manufacturing solution,” said Erwin older platforms such as VMS and are imaging film enables images to persist
Schmitt, production manager at written in either Cobol or Fortran,” without applied voltage, reducing
SiCrystal. stated Dan Estrada, VP of Sales and power consumption for viewing text.
“We are excited about our relationship business development at Eyelit.
www.euroasiasemiconductor.com December 2008 / January 2009
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