ON Semiconductor to Expand MOS Power Wafer Fab in Slovakia; Six-Inch Front-End Facility Builds On Proven World-Class Performance of Slovak Operations

    PHOENIX--Feb. 27, 2002--ON Semiconductor , a leader in high-performance power- and data-management semiconductors today announced plans to expand its wafer-manufacturing facility in Piestany, Slovakia with a second front-end wafer fab that will produce low-voltage MOS power devices.
    ON Semiconductor will introduce an advanced 6-inch wafer line into its 915,000-square-foot facility in Piestany and expects the first phase of the project to be staffed and operational early 2003. There currently are 250 people employed at the site and the company plans to add 90 jobs by the end of the first phase of the project.
    The new fab will use the company's advanced HD3e technology platform to manufacture industry-leading MOS power devices critical for the management of power in today's wireless, computing and automotive applications. The front-end factory is ISO 14001 and QS-9000 certified, giving it a unique advantage in the automotive electronics market where quality and reliability play a key role.
    "ON Semiconductor selected Piestany for this expansion project based on the facility's track record for quality and on-time delivery," said Walt Guy, ON Semiconductor general manager of the Piestany facility.
    "The wafer technology that will be implemented here is on the high end and is a major step forward for moving us into higher end process and equipment technologies. Our new ONPY 2 fab will have design enhancements that will enable us to quickly introduce additional expansion projects to meet future demand."
    Prior to 2001, ON Semiconductor used the Piestany site for wafer manufacturing only, but that year decided to expand the number of business organizations that support the company's European business objectives. The European Customer Service Center (ECSC) features European-wide customer service, quality support and Central-European sales operations.
    "We are fortunate to have a highly motivated and very capable workforce here coupled with an improving climate for doing business in Slovakia," Guy said.
    "We have achieved outstanding operational performance in a relatively short period of time. As we execute on our strategy for growth, we fully expect the Piestany facility to play an increasingly important role in supporting ON Semiconductor's global business goals."

    About ON Semiconductor in Slovakia

    ON Semiconductor's front-end factory and European Customer Service Center (ECSC) are located in Piestany, Slovak Republic. Slovakia Electronics Industries, a.s. (SEI) is the name of the legal entity of ON Semiconductor's wholly owned subsidiary.
    After reviewing the potential of the former Tesla Piestany company, Slovakia Electronics Industries acquired the semiconductor production facility in Piestany in September 1998, through a public tender. The front-end factory, ISO 14001 and QS-9000 certified, builds CMOS Logic standard semiconductors that are sold into a wide variety of applications in the world electronics market.

    About ON Semiconductor

    ON Semiconductor offers an extensive portfolio of power- and data-management semiconductors that address the design needs of today's sophisticated electronic products, appliances and automobiles. For more information visit ON Semiconductor's Web site at http://www.onsemi.com.

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