Last silicon factory in Belgium bankrupt

We 've been trying to run fabs here for 40 years. Some operated by universities, some by Philips and whoever was a descendent of them. Today the last one went bankrupt and closed.

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/09/05/chipfabrikant-belgan-definitief-dicht/

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misaz over 1 year ago +1

It is surprising consodering increasing global demand on chips. In czechia onsemi plans to upgrate the only fab in czechia.
dang74 over 1 year ago +1

Sorry to hear that.
shabaz over 1 year ago +1

It hurts hearing this : ( I don't know the background of course. But seems to me there's always a solution, whether that involves government intervention or not (granted there may be rules preventing that…

misaz over 1 year ago

It is surprising consodering increasing global demand on chips. In czechia onsemi plans to upgrate the only fab in czechia.
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Jan Cumps over 1 year ago in reply to misaz

Maybe wages are lower? Over here they can't keep the lips above water. And they tried.
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dang74 over 1 year ago

Sorry to hear that.
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shabaz over 1 year ago

It hurts hearing this : ( I don't know the background of course. But seems to me there's always a solution, whether that involves government intervention or not (granted there may be rules preventing that, it's always more complicated than it seems), but making non-engineers understand how such factories will be near-impossible to re-establish without eye-watering levels of investment and years of acquiring the staff and skills, is hard. It's not something a future government can just throw money at. It needs more. And seems to me, that closing and losing staff and that knowledge is irreversibly damaging not just to Belgium, but to Europe in general (including the UK in here).
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kmikemoo over 1 year ago

That is so sad. It doesn't make sense to let this happen - especially in light of the tensions surrounding Taiwan. Definitely not a good strategic decision to let this company fold.
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dougw over 1 year ago

Short term economics almost always wins. Especially when the long term prospects require a truly massive ongoing investment and even with massive investment, viability is very risky. Fab plants have closed in Canada too - it is depressing to watch.
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battlecoder over 1 year ago

Well this is sad. I wish more countries had chip factories, not less. That would increase availability and make the whole industry more resilient against localized economy woes.
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anniel747 over 1 year ago in reply to dougw

Here in Quebec there is expansion.
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