By ComputerWire Staff

Samsung Electronics and Germany's Siltronic have opened a $1bn joint venture 300mm silicon wafers plant in Singapore, named Siltronic Samsung Wafer.

The 300mm wafers are currently the most advanced and largest diameter silicon wafers in commercial mass production. The plant aims to reach a monthly capacity of 300,000 wafers by 2010.

The plant, Samsung's first wafer production site outside South Korea, will supply the company's internal needs as well as customers in the US, Japan, and Europe.

Wilhelm Sittenthaler, chief executive at Siltronic, said: "Today's commissioning is a key milestone in further expanding our presence on Asia's growth markets. Siltronic Samsung Wafer underscores the engineering expertise and the outstanding collaborative strength between Samsung Electronics and Siltronic."