Applied Materials Gets Fujitsu Service Contract

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Applied Materials Inc., a chip equipment maker, on Monday said it received a service contract from Fujitsu Microelectronics Ltd. to service its plant in Mie, Japan.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Applied Materials said it will service over 100 chip-making systems at Fujitsu's 300 millimeter semiconductor plant, using a technology that can cut maintenance costs by 15 percent.

It also plans to improve the efficiency, predictability and profitability of Fujitsu's system-on-chip manufacturing process through a technology that tracks and optimizes the performance of every tool in the fabrication plant.

A system-on-chip integrates components of a computer onto a single chip, enabling multiple functions. These chips make possible smaller, yet more powerful consumer electronics devices.

Shares of Applied Materials were up 43 cents, or 3.3 percent, to $13.53 in afternoon trading.