Re:Samsung Foundry: New $17B Fab in the USA by Late 2023
by avs733 on Wednesday February 10, 2021 @09:07PM
(#26097419)
I’m honestly surprised we have not seen a blank wafer shortage. I remember the craziness post 2011 earthquake...”well how many wafers do we have”
Re:Samsung Foundry: New $17B Fab in the USA by Late 2023
by nl on Wednesday February 10, 2021 @09:30PM
(#26097554)
There is a blank wafer shortage, but - strangely - for 200mm wafers (not the state-of-the-art 300mm ones)
https://www.extremetech.com/computing/318554-a-massive-chip-...
Re:Samsung Foundry: New $17B Fab in the USA by Late 2023
by avs733 on Thursday February 11, 2021 @10:41AM
(#26102708)
I wouldn't even have thought to look at 200mm for a shortage. That is an (in hindsight) obvious corner of death for these processes/products I wouldn't even have thought of.
Add like 100 more companies to the list.
A fab is not only a lithographic line, but a ton of other very unique, industry specific equipment.
Air handling for fabs stuff is up to 24 months lead time, and has no use in any other industry.
Ultra clean water plants — 9 to 18 months. Just two vendors on the planet.
Gas plants — take few years to construct by themselves
Chem plants — again years long lead time equipment from only one vendor in the world
On site mask shops — equipment, and processes not much cheaper, or less scarce than the last gen chip making gear itself.
Cleaning stations, degassing stations, industry specific SCADA hardware, AMHS... (https://youtu.be/XKXZT-BBUEE)
Post-backend stuff...
The list will go on for a few screens.