Building work on the Advanced Mask Technology Center (AMTC) in Dresden, Germany, kicked off with laying of the cornerstone. The AMTC is an equally-owned joint venture of AMD, Infineon Technologies and DuPont Photomasks (Bulletin 433, May 20, 2002) aimed at the development and pilot manufacturing of advanced photomasks.

DuPont Photomasks is also building an
independent photomask production facility in the same building complex as
the AMTC. Both projects are expected to be ready for equipment installation
by the middle of 2003, with the first photomasks to be available later that
year.
Investments in the two new Dresden-based photomask projects are expected to
exceed EUR500m over the next five years, creating 370 jobs (AMTC=EUR360m,
170 jobs; DuPont=EUR170m, 200 jobs).

Mixed-signal test equipment producer SZ Testsysteme moved into new 5800m2
administrative and 9500m2 production buildings at its headquarters in
Amerang near Wasserburg, Germany. Annual production capacity has expanded to
200-250 testers. The new facilities cost EUR26.1m to build and are designed
to accommodate 450 employees. SZ currently employs 400 people worldwide, 350
at Amerang.

Genmark Automation has expanded its facilities to include a new 4800m2
building in Milpitas CA. The new site includes an additional 1800m2 of
cleanroom space. Full operation is expected by midsummer