Advanced Energy Industries of Fort Collins, CO, has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Aera for approximately $48 million. Based in Hachioji, Japan, Aera manufactures mass-flow controllers. Its U.S. headquarters is in Austin, TX. Advanced specializes in components for power delivery, power control, remote plasma clean, temperature management, and related products.

Intel spent $2 billion to build and equip its newest microprocessor fab. The chipmaking giant will use the new Fab 22 to manufacture copper-based 0.13-µm devices on 8-in. wafers. The plant is located on Intel's Ocotillo campus in Chandler, AZ, near its existing Fab 12. The 360,000-sq-ft plant houses a cleanroom measuring approximately 133,000 sq ft. A four-story support building measures 320,000 sq ft, and a central utility building measures 123,000 sq ft. Intel says it built the facility in a record time of 18 months and has hired more than 1000 workers for the site. Fab 22 is part of a growth spurt for Intel, which has announced plans to have six fabs running 0.13-µm technology within the next two years.

A Southern California manufacturer of photomasks and reticles has purchased a grinding and polishing facility for an undisclosed sum. Photo Sciences has purchased Xytex of Harbor City, CA. Photo Sciences will move the entire acquisition to its facility located in Torrance, CA, and will retain the Xytex work force. In addition to performing high-precision polishing, Xytex specializes in metallization. Minas Kazanjian, president of Xytex, has been named manager of Photo Sciences' wafer services.