Matsushita electric industrial has started making semiconductors using 45-nanometer process technology.

Matsushita currently makes both 45- and 65-nanometer chips at production facilities in its central Japan plant. It plans to raise the output capacity of the facilities to 10,000 300-mm silicon wafers a month eventually from the current 6,500 wafers.

Matsushita, which developed 45-nanometer chips with Renesas Technology Corp., aims to extend the existing cooperation to the development of the next-generation 32-nanometer chips.