American Micro Devices
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Semiconductor |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Founder | Joseph C. Worth, Milton I. Liberhaber, Dearl H. Belvis, Louis Bialick, Lee Sudit, Theodore M. Stone |
| Defunct | 1965 |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis, Minnesota , United States |
| Products | Silicon-based computer diodes and integrated circuits |
American Micro Devices was a semiconductor firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Established in 1961, the company was officially dissolved in 1991.
History
American Micro Devices began its operations as a designer and manufacturer of electronic components in 1961, with incorporation taking place in Minnesota. The company's leadership included president and cofounder Joseph C. Worth, along with Milton I. Liberhaber, Dearl H. Belvis, Louis Bialick, Lee Sudit, and Theodore M. Stone.
In May 1962, the firm inaugurated a production facility located in Phoenix, Arizona. That same year, it held its inaugural meeting of shareholders in August and introduced its initial product lineup by September. Also in 1962, American Micro Devices expanded by acquiring Standard Rectifier Corp., based in Santa Ana, California, which was subsequently operated as a division within the Phoenix plant. During this period, the company focused on manufacturing silicon-based computer diodes and integrated circuits.
By 1964, a distribution agreement was reached with Sylvania Electric Products to market certain AMD products, broadening the company’s sales network. Nevertheless, on March 8, 1965, the board resolved to cease business activities and liquidate company assets following Sylvania's refusal to place orders for early 1965. Although contracts valued at $1.5 million had been fulfilled in 1964 and $2.5 million were anticipated for 1965, inventory surpluses contributed to the decision to close operations. The company's assets were subsequently auctioned off in May 1965.
Reports from 1988 indicated that American Micro Devices had become defunct; its stock lost all value after the company had stopped operating around or before 1980.