The following is an unedited press release, shown as received from the company represented. We've elected to present selected releases without editorial comment, as a way to provide our readers more information without further overtaxing our limited editorial resources. To avoid any possible confusion or conflict of interest, the Imaging Resource will always clearly distinguish between company-provided press releases and our own editorial views and content. |
PRESS RELEASE: SanDisk to Launch 43-Nanometer Multi-Level Nana Flash Memory in Mass Production
Cutting-Edge Process Technology Co-Developed With Toshiba Demonstrates Continued Technology and Manufacturing Leadership in MLC Flash Memory
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, February 6, 2008— SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) today announced the introduction of Multi-Level (MLC) NAND flash memory using 43 nanometer (nm) process technology co-developed with Toshiba Corporation in Japan. This 43nm technology advancement provides twice the density per chip compared to 56nm 16Gigabit (Gb) process technology, thus lowering the die-cost while maintaining performance and reliability. During the second quarter of 2008, SanDisk intends to begin shipping products using the industry’s highest available density of single-chip MLC NAND flash memory. Shipments will start with 16Gigabit and will be followed by 32Gigabit in the second half of 2008.
“We’re excited about commencing the production ramp of the 43nm generation of MLC NAND flash memory with its significantly lower cost benefits,” said Dr. Randhir Thakur, SanDisk’s executive vice president of technology and worldwide operations. “Technology features include SanDisk’s patented All Bit line (ABL) architecture with efficient programming algorithms and 8-Kilobyte (KB) page size, providing high performance capabilities. State-of-the-art lithography, other process technology innovations and industry-first 64-NAND string architecture provide lower cost per megabyte and excellent performance. The 43nm technology generation will become our major focus during 2008 as we continue to provide leading-edge technology and cost benefits to our customers” he added.
SanDisk and Toshiba presented today a joint paper on 43nm 16Gb NAND flash memory at the 2008 International Solid State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), highlighting the technical advancements.
Continuing its leadership in the development and fabrication of advanced NAND flash technology, SanDisk has started the transition to 43nm manufacturing at Toshiba’s Yokkaichi Operations near Nagoya, Japan. SanDisk and Toshiba share output from the Yokkaichi facility and have co-developed many of the designs and technologies in MLC NAND flash. The new 43nm flash will be produced initially at Fab 4, the new 300mm wafer facility that SanDisk and Toshiba recently opened. In the second half of 2008, Fab 3 also is expected to transition to 43nm.
The 43nm generation of NAND flash combined with SanDisk’s systems innovation and proprietary controllers is also expected to enable emerging markets such as Solid State Drives (SSDs) and managed NAND such as iNAND, to expand the flash storage capabilities of the rapidly growing mobile market, and to extend our leadership in differentiated high performance product lines.
SanDisk Corporation, the inventor and world’s largest supplier of flash storage cards, is a global leader in flash memory – from research, manufacturing and product design to consumer branding and retail distribution. SanDisk’s product portfolio includes flash memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders; digital audio/video players; USB flash drives for consumers and the enterprise; embedded memory for mobile devices; and solid state drives for computers. SanDisk (www.sandisk.com/corporate) is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States.
SanDisk’s web site/home page address: http://www.sandisk.com
SanDisk and the SanDisk logo are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. Other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder (s).
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements about our business outlook, technological advancements, product performance, production schedules, shipments and cost efficiencies that are based on our current expectations and involve numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate and may significantly and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Risks that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include among others: unexpected yield variances or delays in the ramp up of production of 43-nanometer NAND flash products at Fab 3 or Fab 4, inability to meet higher performance specifications, higher than expected costs and the other risks detailed from time-to-time under the caption "Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, our Form 10-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. We do not intend to update the information contained in this press release.
(First posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 14:04 EST)
|
|