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Samsung expands Texas operations as global memory crunch worsens through 2028. ANI 30 Jul 2026, 23:29 GMT+ Seoul [South Korea], July 30 (ANI): Samsung bets on accelerating its manufacturing footprint in Texas as surging artificial intelligence demand strains advanced-chip capacity worldwide, stretching into 2028, according to a news report by The Korea Herald. The South Korean tech firm announced plans to bring its first foundry in Taylor, Texas, online this year and begin construction on a second facility by the end of the year. The decision followed company warnings that tight memory supplies would worsen next year as leading-edge chip production struggled to match market demand. 'AI-driven memory demand is expanding at an unprecedented pace, while available industry supply continues to fall short of customer needs,' the news report quoted Samsung during an earnings call. The company cautioned that scaling up physical production would require significant time due to construction schedules. 'Given the more than 3 1/2 year lead time from new fab construction to wafer production, a meaningful increase in supply will take time, and we expect the shortage to intensify in 2027 and persist into 2028.' The expansion plans coincided with record financial results for the April-June quarter. As per the news report, Samsung reported revenue of 171.5 trillion won (USD 119.2 billion) and an operating profit of 89.5 trillion won (USD 65.34 billion), marking year-on-year increases of 130 per cent and 1,813.8 per cent, respectively. The semiconductor-focused Device Solutions division drove earnings with 127.5 trillion won (USD 93.08 billion) in revenue and 89.2 trillion won (USD 65.12 billion)in operating profit. Conversely, the Device eXperience division, which manages mobile devices and home appliances, recorded an 800 billion won (USD 584 million) operating loss on 48 trillion won (USD 35.04 billion) in revenue as rising component expenses squeezed margins. Harman recorded 4.6 trillion won (USD 3.36 billion) in revenue, while Samsung Display posted 7.5 trillion won (USD 5.48 billion). To mitigate ongoing supply pressures, clients actively sought multiyear supply commitments with the chipmaker. 'Requests for multiyear supply agreements continue to grow as AI token consumption rises exponentially,' the company said. Samsung outlined its strategy for selecting long-term commercial partners to maintain revenue stability. 'We are negotiating primarily with customers that can provide clear visibility into future demand, which we believe will help make the memory business less vulnerable to traditional supply-demand cycles.' Samsung finalised long-term contracts with five global data centre operators and reached final-stage negotiations with five additional major AI customers. These five-year rolling agreements, backed by initial upfront payments, were expected to cover 60 to 70 per cent of future medium- to long-term production. As per the news report, for the second half of the year, Samsung projected further profit gains driven by next-generation HBM4 memory shipments. In its foundry business, Taylor Fab 1 will focus on 2-nanometer capacity, while Fab 2 targets mass production in 2030. Additionally, Samsung ruled out a US Nasdaq ADR listing, citing strong internal cash generation, and announced a new robotics business office to construct a pilot facility in Gumi. (ANI)

Tallinn City Theatre's renovation unifies seven performance spaces with Harman Professional audio system. Estonia - The Tallinn City Theatre has completed a comprehensive audio renovation that includes the integration of a Harman Professional audio system, including JBL, Crown, BSS and Soundcraft, across its multiple performance and support spaces. Located at Lai 23 in Tallinn's Old Town, the project modernises one of Estonia's most significant cultural institutions while preserving its historic character and relationship to the surrounding urban environment. The theatre complex itself is uniquely composed of a network of 16 interconnected medieval merchant houses, forming one of the most architecturally distinctive cultural venues in Northern Europe. Founded in 1965, Tallinn City Theatre has evolved into one of Estonia's most respected repertory companies, known for imaginative staging and strong ensemble work. The theatre expanded significantly in the early 1990s, becoming a municipal institution and served as the host of the biannual international festival Midwinter Night's Dream, a major cultural event held in December. Today, the theatre employs a resident company of 36 actors and maintains a diverse repertoire that spans classical works and contemporary productions from Estonia and abroad. Delivered in partnership with EW Sound & Light OÜ, this renovation addresses long-standing requirements for updated technical infrastructure, improved audience amenities and enhanced working conditions for performers and staff. The project spans several venues within the theatre complex, including the main stage, mid-sized and flexible performance halls, rehearsal rooms and an outdoor stage, each designed to support a range of productions from classical drama to experimental performance. To meet the demands of these varied spaces, the installation incorporates a networked audio system built on BSS Soundweb London processors and Crown amplifiers, paired with a wide range of JBL loudspeakers. BSS components include BLU-806 and BLU-50 signal processors, BLU-DAN interfaces and modular BLUCARD input and output cards, enabling Dante and BLU link networking across the facility. User control is supported by BSS EC-4BV and EC-8BV ethernet wall controllers, allowing localised adjustment in different rooms. The loudspeaker system includes JBL VTX A6 line arrays for larger performance spaces, supported by JBL VTX B15 and VTX B18 subwoofers for low-frequency reinforcement. Additional reinforcement is provided by JBL VTX F12 and VTX F18S loudspeakers, along with JBL VTX M20 stage monitors. Across secondary venues and distributed areas, JBL AE Series, including AC16, AC18/26, AC18/95, AC28/26 and AC28/95, provide consistent coverage, while JBL AM5212/26 loudspeakers and ASB6112 and ASB6115 subwoofers support larger rooms and stage environments. For portable and auxiliary use, the system includes JBL PRX912 loudspeakers and JBL EON ONE Compact for professional sound in a compact battery-powered PA, as well as JBL 305P MkII and 708i studio monitors for production and rehearsal applications. All loudspeakers are powered by Crown DCi Series amplifiers, including DCi 4|1250DA and DCi 8|600DA models, along with Crown I-Tech 4x3500HD amplifiers for high-output applications. Soundcraft Ui16 and Ui24R digital mixers provide flexible mixing capabilities for smaller productions, events and rehearsal spaces. The integrated system enables consistent audio performance across the theatre's seven venues, including the main stage, black box spaces and open-air courtyard, while supporting flexible routing and control for different production requirements. The networked infrastructure allows technical teams to manage audio distribution efficiently, adapting configurations for each performance without extensive reconfiguration. "The Tallinn City Theatre required a system that could support a wide range of productions while maintaining consistency across multiple spaces," said Karl Erik Laas, senior sound technician for Tallinn City Theatre. "The combination of JBL loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers and BSS processors provides the flexibility and control needed for both daily operation and complex performances." With the renovation complete, Tallinn City Theatre is equipped with an audio system that supports its evolving programming while maintaining its role as a central cultural institution. The upgraded infrastructure enables reliable performance across diverse productions and ensures the venue can continue serving audiences with improved accessibility, comfort and technical capability, further strengthening its position as one of Tallinn's most prominent and historically significant performing arts centres.

Micron signs long-term AI vehicle supply agreements. By Diego Valverde | Journalist & Industry Analyst - Fri, 07/17/2026 - 10:10 DIA assistant Micron has signed long-term Strategic Customer Agreements with Qualcomm, HARMAN, Hyundai Mobis, and other automotive suppliers to secure memory and storage availability for next-generation AI-enabled vehicles. The agreements are designed to improve supply visibility, production planning, and long-term investment. The automotive industry's shift toward software-defined and AI-powered vehicles is increasing demand for advanced memory and storage, prompting semiconductor suppliers to strengthen long-term partnerships. Against this backdrop, Micron Technology has completed a series of Strategic Customer Agreements (SCAs) with leading Tier 1 suppliers and ecosystem partners to help ensure the long-term availability of memory and storage components for future vehicle platforms. The agreements include Qualcomm, HARMAN, Visteon, JOYNEXT, DENSO, Astemo, and Hyundai Mobis, companies that collectively develop many of the digital cockpit, connectivity and advanced driver assistance technologies used by global automakers. The collaborations are intended to provide greater visibility into future demand, support production planning, and establish a more predictable framework for technology investments as automotive platforms become increasingly dependent on AI. "The next phase of automotive innovation will depend on the strength of the ecosystem behind it," says Sanjay Mehrotra, President and CEO, Micron Technology. "As vehicles become increasingly intelligent, memory and storage are critical enablers of technology experiences that consumers demand." Mehrotra adds that these SCAs with leading automotive technology partners will help ensure that advanced vehicle platforms have the memory and storage capabilities required to deliver richer, safer and more intelligent experiences. Long-Term Supply Becomes a Strategic Priority Unlike consumer electronics, automotive platforms remain in production for many years and require components that meet rigorous qualification standards throughout their lifecycle. That dynamic has made supply continuity a growing concern as demand for high-performance memory expands across industries fueled by AI. Micron says the agreements are designed to provide greater certainty around supply and pricing while improving coordination with its customers on future memory and storage requirements. The company expects the additional visibility to support investments in technology development, manufacturing capacity and product qualification for upcoming vehicle generations. The announcement also reflects a broader trend across the semiconductor industry. Demand for advanced memory has accelerated as AI workloads expand beyond data centers into edge applications, including vehicles, smartphones, and personal computers. Reuters reports that manufacturers are increasing production capacity to address the growing need for memory components supporting AI-enabled systems across multiple industries. Micron, the only US-based producer of high-bandwidth memory used alongside Nvidia's AI processors, has benefited from this demand alongside competitors SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics. Micron disclosed in June that it had signed 16 Strategic Customer Agreements as part of its broader commercial strategy, anticipating that AI adoption beyond data centers will become an increasingly important driver of growth across automotive, robotics and consumer devices. AI Increases Vehicles' Memory Requirements As automakers integrate more software into vehicle architectures, memory and storage have become foundational technologies supporting digital experiences and safety systems. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), digital cockpits, connected services, and over-the-air software updates all require higher-performance computing platforms capable of processing and storing increasing volumes of data. Cristiano Amon, President and CEO, Qualcomm Incorporated, says future vehicles require tightly integrated technology platforms combining processing, connectivity, memory and storage. "As vehicles become increasingly software-defined, automakers need technology platforms that bring together high-performance compute, connectivity, memory and storage," says Amon. "We work closely with automakers and Tier 1 suppliers to deliver advanced digital cockpit, driver assistance and connectivity solutions designed to support new capabilities over long vehicle lifecycles. Working with Micron helps us give customers the strong technology foundation they need as vehicles become more intelligent and connected." Resilient memory and storage infrastructure will be essential for delivering connected in-cabin experiences at automotive scale, says Christian Sobottka, CEO and President, Automotive Division, HARMAN. Meanwhile, Lee Gyu-suk, President of Hyundai Mobis, adds that intelligent vehicle platforms relying on advanced driver assistance require long-term technology planning supported by a resilient supply ecosystem. Similarly, Sachin Lawande, President and CEO, Visteon, says advanced digital cockpit experiences depend on high-performance memory and storage, while Shinnosuke Hayashi, President and CEO, DENSO Corporation, says ecosystem partnerships remain critical for scaling intelligent mobility technologies safely and reliably. Building Resilience across the automotive ecosystem The agreements illustrate how semiconductor suppliers and automotive technology companies are moving beyond traditional transactional purchasing models toward longer-term strategic planning. Rather than focusing solely on component procurement, manufacturers are increasingly coordinating investments across the supply chain to support future vehicle architectures that will require significantly greater computing performance. For Micron, the agreements build on more than three decades of supplying memory and storage technologies to the automotive sector. The company says continued investment in automotive-grade memory, manufacturing capacity and customer engagement underpins the new partnership framework, providing greater visibility into future technology roadmaps while strengthening collaboration across the automotive ecosystem.