Malaysian Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Chief Minister of the state of Kedah YAB Dato’ Seri Haji Muhammad Sanusi Haji Mohd Nor joined Infineon CEO Jochen Hanebeck, to symbolically launch production.
Highly efficient, the 200mm SiC power fab will strengthen Infineon’s role as a global supplier of power semiconductors.
The first phase of the fab, with an investment volume of two billion euros, will focus on the production of silicon carbide power semiconductors and will include gallium nitride (GaN) epitaxy.
SiC semiconductors have helped to revolutionise high-power applications because they switch electricity even more efficiently and enable even smaller designed and they have increased efficiency in electric vehicles, fast charging stations and trains as well as renewable energy systems and AI data centres.
The new facility will see 900 high-value jobs created already in the first phase. The second phase, with an investment of up to five billion euros, will create the world’s largest and most efficient SiC power fab. Overall, up to 4.000 jobs will be created with the project.
“New generations of power semiconductors based on innovative technology such as silicon carbide are an absolute prerequisite to achieving decarbonisation and climate protection. Our technology increases the energy efficiency of ubiquitous applications such as electric cars, solar and wind power systems and AI data centers. We are therefore investing in the largest and most efficient high-tech SiC production facility in Malaysia, backed by strong customer commitments,” said Jochen Hanebeck, CEO of Infineon Technologies AG. “Since the demand for semiconductors will constantly rise, the investment in Kulim is highly attractive to our customers, who are backing it with their prepayments. It also increases the resilience of the supply chain for critical components needed for the green transition.”
Infineon has secured design wins with a total value of approximately five billion euros and has received approximately one billion euros in prepayments from existing and new customers for the ongoing expansion of the Kulim 3 fab. Notably, these design wins include six OEMs in the automotive sector as well as customers in the renewable energy and industrial segments.
Kulim 3 will be closely connected to the Infineon site in Villach, Austria, Infineon’s global competence centre for power semiconductors. Infineon already increased capacity for SiC and GaN power semiconductors in Villach in 2023.
Operating as “One Virtual Fab” for wide-bandgap technologies, both manufacturing sites now share technologies and processes which allow for fast ramping and more efficient operation.
The project also offers a high grade of resilience and flexibility, and the expansion will benefit from the economies of scale already achieved for 200mm manufacturing in Kulim.
The Kulim 3 fab will be powered by 100% green electricity and will employ the latest energy efficiency measures to support Infineon’s goal of carbon neutrality. To avoid emissions, Infineon will use a state-of-the-art abatement system and green refrigerants that combine high efficiency with extremely low global warming potential.
Other measures to ensure sustainable operations include state-of-the-art recycling of indirect materials and state-of-the-art water efficiency and recycling processes.
Infineon is working towards recognition with the Green Building Index certification.
