TSMC announces new production facilities designated for R&D
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Semiconductor foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has announced the completion of its Fab 12, phase 5 building located in the Hsinchu Science Park, stating that volume production should begin there in the third quarter of 2009.
Fab 12, phase 4 and 5 are TSMC's latest generation of production facilities designated for research and development as well as initial volume production. Phase 4 began volume production in the third quarter of 2009, while construction began on Phase 5 at the end of 2009. According to TSMC, phase 5 is expected to begin volume production in the third quarter of this year to satisfy urgent recent increases in customer demand.
In addition to volume production of 28nm products, Fab 12, phase 5 will also serve as the base for research and development of 22nm and more advanced process technologies. Currently, TSMC is conducting R&D for 28nm and 22nm process technologies at its Fab 12, phase 1 and 2 facilities, and will hand 28nm technology to the phase 5 facility for volume production in the fourth quarter of this year.
The company has also announced that it will begin construction on Fab 14, phase 4 located at its Tainan site with the facility planned for completion at the end of this year.
Dr Mark Liu (pictured), TSMC's senior vice president of operations, said: "TSMC has always striven to improve its trinity of strengths - technology leadership, manufacturing excellence, and customer partnership - in order to provide steadfast support for our customers and to join with them to forge a powerful competitive force in the semiconductor industry."
Fab 12, Phase 5
* Total area of site (phase 4 and phase 5): 7.83 hectares
* Type of project: Factory building (two storeys underground, four storeys above ground)
* Building area: 83,600 square meters
* Clean room area: 22,700 square meters (approximately three soccer fields)
* Number of employees: A total of 4500 employees will be working in the phase 4 and phase 5 complex. As the R&D team will be based in this building, R&D and production line engineers will reach approximately 3500 people.
*Green building: The Fab, 12 phase 5 building incorporated many green concepts in energy conservation and pollution control in its design, including a process water conservation rate of 85%, reclamation of rain water, recirculation and reuse of general exhaust heat, and development of solar power generation and led lighting applications. TSMC's goal is to reach zero emissions of greenhouse gases.
