Posted on 12/27/2023 5:59:32 PM PST by FarCenter
TSMC's second fab capable of processing wafers using the company's N2 process technology (2nm-class) could be ready in Kaohsiung Science Park somewhat ahead of schedule, reports China Times. However, this news should be taken with a grain of salt, as it hasn't been confirmed by TSMC. Also, the foundry has reportedly obtained all the necessary permissions to construct another fab in Kaohsiung Science Park.
The report from China Times also claims that phase 1 of TSMC's N2-capable fab near Kaohsiung aims to start mass production in 2025, which is a bit earlier than expected as typically the company does not deploy two leading-edge fabs at once.
TSMC is prepping to build at least two N2-capable fabs in Taiwan. The first fabrication facility is set to be situated near Baoshan in Hsinchu County, adjacent to its R1 research and development center, which is focused on N2 technology development. As planned, this fab is set to start high-volume manufacturing (HVM) of 2nm chips in the second half of 2025. TSMC's second N2-capable fab is set to be located in the Kaohsiung Science Park, a segment of the Southern Taiwan Science Park near Kaohsiung. This fab is meant to start HVM a bit later, presumably in 2026.
(Excerpt) Read more at tomshardware.com ...
Is it a union problem in AZ?
While the state may be nominally right to work, a lot of construction activities that use federal dollars have many union requirements.
I bet an American company is automating that fab. And giving away all their MES software in the process. All the docs, all the specs, the source code, everything.
I used to be in the MES business. The company got absorbed by Applied Materials.
-SB
Since the semiconductor foundry business manufactures IC designs coming from a wide variety of customers it would seem that MES software could be a strategic business advantage. Hence it would be something that TSMC would have full control over.
I worked for a major corporation that was headed down the outsourced computing and leased software path when a new CEO come in and brought IT operations and software development back in house. It was the right decision for a leader in the industry.
They might want to rethink that strategy.
The chicoms want Taiwan and TSMC is a BIG reason why.
If they try to take Taiwan it would behove the Taiwanese to have a decent foothold here in the US.
It would encourage the prog regime to actually try to help Taiwan.
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Biden likely told Xi he’d slow roll the AZ facility.....
That’s just fab.
Bfl
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