Intel hails ‘landmark’ as high-volume EUV manufacturing begins at Irish plant

LEIXLIP, Eire, Sept 29 (Reuters) – Chipmaker Intel (INTC.O) mentioned on Friday it had begun high-volume manufacturing utilizing excessive ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines at its $18.5 billion plant in Eire, calling it a “landmark” second because it seeks to regain floor on its rivals.

As soon as the world’s main chip producer, Intel has misplaced the result in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (2330.TW), however says it’s on observe to regain it with manufacturing know-how it says will rival the perfect from the Taiwanese group.

The EUV instruments, that are theoretically exact sufficient to hit an individual’s thumb with a laser pointer from the moon, will play a key function in assembly Intel’s aim of delivering 5 generations of know-how in 4 years, the U.S. firm mentioned.

Intel’s basic supervisor of know-how improvement Ann Kelleher advised Reuters it was on observe to fulfill this goal, with two manufacturing processes now full, a 3rd “coming quickly”, and the ultimate two making superb progress.

The plant, within the city of Leixlip outdoors Dublin, is the primary high-volume location for the group’s Intel 4 manufacturing course of, which makes use of EUV. The approach will produce its forthcoming “Meteor Lake” chip for laptops, which can pave the best way for AI PCs.

The EUV machines, made by Dutch producer ASML (ASML.AS), are as large as a bus and value round $150 million every.

There are presently seven within the plant, the place a continuing stream of overhead robots, every costing the identical as a mean BMW automobile, whiz alongside 22km of observe delivering silicon wafers from device to device.

Kelleher mentioned Intel expects to obtain its first next-generation excessive ultraviolet lithography machine, the Excessive-NA EUV, in Oregon later this yr. The corporate says will probably be the primary chipmaker to get the machine, which can also be made by ASML.

Intel usually finalises new manufacturing processes at a analysis and improvement website within the Portland suburb of Hillsboro, Oregon, earlier than exporting the manufacturing template to different websites.

Past its services in Eire, Intel plans to construct a giant chip advanced in Germany and a semiconductor meeting and check facility in Poland.

The brand new websites will profit from eased funding guidelines and subsidies within the EU because the bloc appears to chop its dependence on U.S. and Asian provide.

On the opening of the Irish plant, Intel chief Pat Gelsinger described it because the “finest day for Europe”.

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