ThaiLin Semiconductor, a Taiwan-based provider of memory and logic IC testing services, on November 22 signed with Japan-based Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) for testing the latter's semiconductor IC devices on a long-term basis, according to ThaiLin.

Based on the long-term contract, AKM will provide advanced mixed-signal IC testing equipment to be installed at ThaiLin's new logic IC testing center in northern Taiwan, ThaiLin indicated. The center will be inaugurated on November 23, 2011, ThaiLin noted.

The cooperative model enables ThaiLin to offer testing services for AKM without additional investment in equipment, according to Cheng Shih-jay who is chairman for ThaiLin and president for the ChipMOS Group of which ThaiLin is a member. In addition, the cooperation with AKM is expected to bring WLCSP (wafer-level chip scale package) technology and business opportunities for ChipMOS Group, Cheng pointed out.

AKM, belonging to the Asahi Kasei Group, is a supplier of electronic devices used in consumer electronics, automobiles and telecoms equipment.

Originating from testing of standard memory ICs, ThaiLin has focused expansion of testing capacity on logic and specialty memory ICs. Of ThaiLin's capex of about NT$200 million (US$6.8 million) in 2011, equipment of logic ICs will account for 70% and specialty memory ICs 30%, the company indicated.