TI postpones $1.6 billion plant. (Texas Instruments delays operations at its new Dallas semiconductor plant)(includes related article on firm's sale of its memory-chip business)

FAR NORTH DALLAS - Citing a slowdown in sales of the specialized computer chips on which it has bet its future, Texas Instruments has postponed equipping and launching a $1.6 billion factory on its Dallas campus.

Originally slated to begin production by early this year, the DMOS 6 wafer-fabrication plant is now tentatively scheduled to be equipped in the first half of 1999 and to go into full production in the year 2000.

The new plant will produce digital signal processors, or DSPs, which are specialized chips used in everything from fetal monitors to anti-skid brakes and desktop fax machines. TI is whittling its operations to focus on making these chips.

The delay in kicking off production will mean the Metroplex must wait for the economic benefits of the new plant, which will occupy 1 million square feet and eventually employ 1,200 people.

But there is a silver lining behind the delay.

TI is now planning to put a pilot line of equipment in the plant to make silicon wafers on a large scale that are 300 millimeters in diameter. Creating the big wafers would represent a major step forward for both the company and its industry.

TI would be able to put 50% more …