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Filtronic plc, a global designer and manufacturer of customised microwave electronic subsystems and components for the wireless telecommunications and defence industries, and RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD), have signed a supply agreement for the manufacture of high volume pHEMT GaAs products on the Filtronic 6 inch processing facility based in Newton Aycliffe, UK. As a manufacturer of proprietary radio frequency integrated circuits for wireless communications products, based on its HBT GaAs technology, RFMD will incorporate Filtronic’s pHEMT GaAs products into its own modules aimed at mobile handset and WLAN applications. Under the terms of the agreement Filtronic has become RFMD’s Tier 1 supplier for GaAs pHEMT technology, where RFMD will use Filtronic as its preferred supplier of pHEMT integrated products for all its requirements. The two companies have been collaborating to develop and qualify a range of multi-throw switch products. Initial pre-production is already underway and volume production is due to commence in Q2 2005. Commenting, Professor David Rhodes, Filtronic’s chairman, said: “The addition of RFMD as a customer for the foundry at Newton Aycliffe is a major step in delivering our strategy of merchant and custom semiconductor product sales. Filtronic looks forward to supporting RFMD in their many projects going forward.”