Toshiba Corporation announced that the company has developed second generation 19 nanometer process technology that it will apply to mass production of 2-bit-per-cell 64 gigabit NAND memory chips later this month. Toshiba has used the new generation technology to develop the smallest 2-bit --per-cell 64 gigabit NAND memory chips, with an area of only 94 square millimeters. Using a unique high speed writing method, the next generation chips can achieve a write speed of up to 25 megabytes a second - the world's fastest class in 2-bit-per-cell chips. Toshiba is also developing 3-bit-per-cell chips by using this process technology and aims to start mass production in the second quarter of this fiscal year. NAND flash memory is an essential component of a diverse line-up of consumer products, including memory cards, smartphones, tablets and notebook PCs, and is increasingly deployed in enterprise products, including SSD for data centers.

Bridgelux, Inc. announced the closing of an agreement with Toshiba Corporation which will strengthen and extend their strategic technology collaboration. The agreement was originally announced on April 22, 2013, and the companies have now completed the transfer of Bridgelux GaN-on-Silicon technology assets to Toshiba and inaugurated this new phase of GaN-on-Silicon LED collaboration, including an expanded licensing and manufacturing supply relationship. Bridgelux will continue to develop and market its leading GaN-on-Sapphire LED products as a fabless solid state lighting company.

Toshiba Corporation announced that Toshiba Infrastructure South America Ltd. (TIC-SA), has started production of power transformers in a plant built in Betim, Minas Gerais state. Many South American countries are upgrading their social infrastructure and planning to promote development of smart grids. This is particularly true in Brazil, host to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Under its Growth Acceleration Program, the Brazilian government plans to invest in the areas of logistics, energy and social development. Against this background of economic and population growth, demand for electricity in South America is expected to rise and the market for power transformer is forecast to expand from about USD 210.0 billion in 2012 to USD 250.0 billion in 2015. The company currently undertakes manufacture and sale of power transformers at its plant in Contagem, Minas Gerais. That facility has an annual capacity equivalent to amount 15GVA, and its output goes to the Brazilian market and the Americas. Construction of the new plant to meet growing demand began in May 2011, some 25km west of Contagem city. The site is 146,000m(2) and the building has a floor area of 22,710m(2). The investment in plant and equipment to this point is approximately JPY 6.0 billion. The company has put in place a production framework covering both plants. The Contagem site will produce small-capacity transformers, while the Betim site will manufacture medium- to large-capacity transformers. This expanded production base will support TIC-SA in proactively promoting its social infrastructure businesses throughout the region. Overview of the new plant: Location: Betim, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Site area: 146,000m(2); Floor area: 22,710m(2); Products: Medium- and large-capacity power transformers; and Construction: Started in May 2011, completed in May 2013.