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| Type | Public (NYSE: MU) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Boise, Idaho,  |
| Key people | Steve Appleton, Chairman & CEO Mark Durcan, President & COO |
| Industry | Semiconductors |
| Products | Computer memory, CMOS Image sensors |
| Revenue | ▲ US$5.84 billion (2008) [1] |
| Operating income | ▼ -US$1.60 billion (2008) |
| Net income | ▼ -US$1.62 billion (2008) |
| Employees | Approx. 16,250 (June 2009) |
| Subsidiaries | Crucial Technology Lexar Media, Inc. SpecTek Aptina Imaging |
| Website | www.micron.com |
Micron Technology ("Micron") NYSE: MU is a multinational company based in Boise, Idaho, USA, best known for producing many forms of semiconductor devices. This includes DRAM, SDRAM, flash memory, SSD and CMOS image sensing chips. Most consumers are more familiar with its consumer brand Crucial Technology. Micron Technology is among the worldwide top 20 semiconductor sales leaders.
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History
Micron was founded in Boise, Idaho, in 1978 by Ward Parkinson, Joe Parkinson, Dennis Wilson, and Doug Pitman. Startup funding was provided by local Idaho businessmen Tom Nicholson, Allen Noble, and Ron Yanke. Later it received funding from Idaho billionaire J. R. Simplot, whose fortune was made in the potato business. In 1981, its first wafer fabrication unit ("Fab 1") was completed and Micron was producing 64K DRAM chips. A second "fab" was completed in late 1984 to produce 256K DRAM chips. By focusing on being a low-cost producer, Micron survived numerous collapses in the DRAM market which caused many competitors to leave the industry. One of the most vicious was in 1985, when allegations of Japanese import dumping fueled a price collapse that caused DRAM inventor Intel to leave the market. Micron survived and eventually acquired the memory businesses of rivals Texas Instruments in 1998 and Toshiba in 2001. These acquisitions gave Micron an international presence with production facilities in Italy, Singapore, and Japan. Today Micron is the only DRAM manufacturer in the United States and its primary competitors include Samsung, Hynix, and Elpida. In 1994, founder Joe Parkinson retired as CEO and was replaced with current CEO Steve Appleton.
In the early 1990s the company formed Micron Computers (later known as Micron Electronics) to manufacture PCs. The subsidiary was based in nearby Nampa, Idaho, and sold computers under the brand names Micron, and later, MicronPC & MicronPC.com.
In 1998 Micron Technology acquired Rendition, a maker of 3D graphics chips.
Control of Micron Technology's Internet business, Micron Internet Services, was transferred to Micron Electronics in 1999. Micron Electronics took on a new focus - bundling computers and Internet services. Controversial MEI CEO Joel Koecher purchased Internet firm HostPro (Web.com), merging it in to the company.
In 2001, the computer-making and Internet business were split. The Internet assets were merged with Interland Inc, which changed its name to web.com, and all ties to Micron Technology were severed. The computer-making operations were sold to Gores Technology Group, which later re-branded the MicronPC brand name to "MPC Computers". MPC Computers, owned by the MPC Corporation (formerly HyperSpace Communications, Inc.) operated out of nearby Nampa, ID. MPC declared bankruptcy in November 2008 and has ceased operations.
In 2002, armed with the Sherman Antitrust Act, the United States Department of Justice began a probe into the activities of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) manufacturers. US computer makers, including Dell and Gateway, claimed that inflated DRAM pricing was causing lost profits and hindering their effectiveness in the marketplace. To date, five manufacturers have pleaded guilty to their involvement in an international price-fixing conspiracy including Hynix, Infineon, Micron Technology, Samsung, and Elpida. Micron Technology was not fined for its involvement due to co-operation with investigators.[2]
In June 2007, Steve Appleton gave up the title of President to COO Mark Durcan.
In March 2008, Micron launched Aptina Imaging, a CMOS Image Sensor Division.
On October 9, 2008, Micron announced a restructuring of its memory operations, with plans to reduce its global workforce by approximately 15 percent. Most of the layoffs were targeted for its headquarters in Boise, due to the elimination of a NAND-memory supply agreement. On October 12, the company announced the purchase of Qimonda's stake in Inotera technologies for $400 million.
On February 23, 2009, Micron announced that it would phase out 200mm wafer production operations at its Boise facility, resulting in the loss of an additional 2,000 jobs. In May 2009, the company acquired the FLCOS microdisplay company Displaytech.
Products
Micron makes DRAM Memory components and modules including SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, LPDRAM, RLDRAM, PSRAM, and multi-chip packages. They also make NAND Flash memory, High Speed NAND, eMMC, eUSB, Serial NAND, and SSDs.
References
External links
- Micron Technology, Inc (company website)
- Milestones of Micron Technology at micron.com
- Crucial.com (Consumer sales for Micron memory)
- Lexar - Subsidiary of Micron Technology
- Aptina Imaging - Division of Micron Technology
- IM Flash, an Intel, Micron Venture
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