Intel to open Jerusalem plant next week

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL: Intel Corp, the world's biggest electronic chip maker, said on Sunday it would open its new die preparation plant in Jerusalem next week.

Intel closed its ageing Fab 8 chip plant in Jerusalem in 2008 and started converting the facility to a die prep plant.

Die preparation is the next stage following the production of wafers.

A spokesman for Intel in Israel said the plant -- which cost tens of millions of dollars to convert and employs 150 people -- officially will open next Sunday.

Intel Israel is one of Israel's largest exporters, with nearly $1.4 billion in 2008. Until now die preparation for Intel's chip wafers has been done in Asia.

Intel's $3.5 billion Fab 28 chip plant in Israel's southern city of Kiryat Gat opened late last year and makes processors with 45 nanometre-wide circuitry.

Intel also operates four research and development centres in Israel.