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Toshiba To Close 3 Chip Plants

Toshiba said it will close three semiconductor plants in the first half of fiscal 2012 as part of its restructuring of its domestic chip-making business.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Toshiba Corp. said Wednesday it will close three semiconductor plants in the first half of fiscal 2012 as part of its restructuring of its domestic chip-making business hit by the appreciation of the yen and weakening demand from consumer electronics makers.

The three plants to be shut down during the April-September period of 2012 are the Kitakyushu plant in Fukuoka Prefecture and subsidiaries Hamaoka Toshiba Electronics Corp. in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture, and Toshiba Components Co. in Mobara, Chiba Prefecture, Toshiba said.

Some 1,200 workers at the three plants will be transferred to other operations within the Toshiba group.

The Kitakyushu plant currently produces optical semiconductors for use in such products as home appliances and digital cameras.

Hamaoka Toshiba and Toshiba Components engage in production of optical and power semiconductors, respectively.

The reorganization of semiconductor production facilities also includes a capacity increase at Kaga Toshiba Electronics Corp. in Nomi, Ishikawa Prefecture, to begin producing optical chips in the first half of fiscal 2012 or later, Toshiba said.

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