Abstract: A wire bondable plastic encapsulated semiconductor device (58) having no die supporting surface can be manufactured. In one embodiment, a semiconductor die (22) and a plurality of conductors (12) extending toward the periphery of the die are provided. The die is rigidly held in place on a workholder (60) with a vacuum (62) for the wire bonding process. Wire bonds (26) electrically connect the die to the conductors. The wire bonded die is then placed inside a mold cavity (64), and a resin encapsulated is transferred into the cavity under elevated temperature and pressure to form package body (70) around the die, the wire bonds and a portion of the conductors. Before the package body is formed, the die is supported solely by the the rigidity of the wire bonds since there is no die supporting surface connected to the conductors.