TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#1

Post by ytch » Fri, May 15, 2020, 1:05 AM UTC

TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.
tsmc.com

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#2

Post by lawrenceyan » Thu, May 14, 2020, 7:14 PM UTC

Some competition with Intel in their home turf I see.

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#3

Post by ccmcarey » Thu, May 14, 2020, 7:20 PM UTC

Only a few days ago they were saying they had no specific plans for a US fab (https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20200512PD202.html).

Nice that Intel will have more local competition.

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#4

Post by rough-sea » Thu, May 14, 2020, 7:37 PM UTC

Why are fabs being built in az?

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#5

Post by kyrra » Thu, May 14, 2020, 7:42 PM UTC

rough-sea wrote: post #4

Why are fabs being built in az?

Guesses: away from fault lines? Dry climate? They get some nasty rains that flood things, but better than tornados, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#6

Post by magicsmoke » Thu, May 14, 2020, 7:45 PM UTC

rough-sea wrote: post #4

Why are fabs being built in az?

ASU puts out some pretty talented semiconductor engineers, and ON Semiconductor is a major supplier based in Phoenix

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#7

Post by lwneal » Thu, May 14, 2020, 7:47 PM UTC

How much software depends on Apple, AMD, Nvidia, or Qualcomm chips? TSMC is an indispensable part of our industry's supply chain.

Most of its chips are produced in Taiwan and over 75% are sold to customers in either the USA or (mainland) China, so TSMC understandably tries to remain neutral in trade disputes between the two. Tim Culpan at Bloomberg recently predicted that this neutrality may not hold for long, and TSMC will be forced to move some production to the USA. [1]

Especially if Intel continues to decline, increased investment by TSMC could be good news for American chip fabs and the communities that depend on them. On the other hand, the factory isn't built yet.

[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-05-11/tsmc-m...

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#8

Post by 3fe9a03ccd14ca5 » Thu, May 14, 2020, 7:48 PM UTC

magicsmoke wrote: post #6

rough-sea wrote: post #4

Why are fabs being built in az?

ASU puts out some pretty talented semiconductor engineers, and ON Semiconductor is a major supplier based in Phoenix

And there’s existing talent because Intel has chip fabs there.

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#9

Post by throwawaybanjo1 » Thu, May 14, 2020, 7:49 PM UTC

kyrra wrote: post #5

rough-sea wrote: post #4

Why are fabs being built in az?

Guesses: away from fault lines? Dry climate? They get some nasty rains that flood things, but better than tornados, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

^ This. Also explains why there's so many data centers. Cost too. Land & power are both cheap.

Re: TSMC Announces Intention to Build and Operate Advanced Semiconductor Fab in U.S.

#10

Post by antishatter » Thu, May 14, 2020, 7:49 PM UTC

rough-sea wrote: post #4

Why are fabs being built in az?

Intel has a big AZ presence, I wonder why AZ specifically. Maybe climate? Maybe so TSMC can poach some talent? It's a really great question and if anyone has specifics I hope they chime in.