Micron Momentum.

• Author: Sipple, Suzette
• Position: Brief Article

When Micron Technology Inc. announced construction of its 2.3 million square foot plant in 1994, its intention was to produce memory chips for PC manufacturers.

However, due to extreme market shifts, production plans for the Lehi plant have been moving in slow motion. Micron spokesman Stan Lockhart says one could consider the progress as a "delayed reaction." He has high expectations that Micron will accomplish its original goal in constructing the Lehi plant -- using it to full capacity.

Micron CEO Steve Appleton recently told analysts that the company has plans to build prototypes of chips on 12-inch wafers, which are significantly larger than the 8-inch industry standard. This production should be in place by the end of 2001. This is a pilot product and there are still many decisions pending, largely contingent upon the market. The company has not publicly projected employment numbers...