The semiconductor factory is slated to begin production from 2024
One of the semiconductor fabs of Taiwanese firm TSMC. (Credit: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited)
Computer chip manufacturing firm Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) has commenced construction on a $12bn semiconductor plant in Phoenix, Arizona.
An announcement was made by the company’s CEO C.C. Wei as part of a virtually held annual technology presentation to clients and investors, reported Reuters.
Wei said that the planned semiconductor factory continues to be on track to begin volume production of chips, starting from 2024. The chips to be produced at the factory will use TSMC’s 5-nanometer production technology.
According to the City of Phoenix, the TSMC semiconductor plant could eventually recruit 1,600 people. Construction on the facility is expected to be completed in April 2022.
In April this year, the Taiwanese company said that it intends to invest $100bn during the next three years to boost the capacity of its chipmaking factories.
Wei during the annual technology presentation mentioned that number while saying that $30bn of that will be spent this year.
The TSMC CEO has been quoted by the publication, as saying: “That will give us enough manufacturing capacity to support the growth of our clients.”
Wei added that the company has developed a version of a chipmaking process based on its 5-nanometer technology. The chipmaking process is certified for use by auto manufacturers for advanced applications such as artificial intelligence.
The CEO also said that the company’s next generation of 3-nanometer chipmaking technology is expected to commence volume production at its “Fab 18” factory in Tainan in the latter half of 2022.
Recently, the company’s board of directors had sanctioned an investment of nearly $2.88bn for installing mature technology capacity. The investment is being viewed as the Taiwanese company’s response to address the ongoing global chip shortage.