Microchip Technology Inc yesterday said it has deepened its partnership with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), eyeing the foundry giant’s 40-nanometer manufacturing capacity at its Japanese fabs.
Microchip, a supplier of microcontroller units based in Chandler, Arizona, said the wafer capacity at Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Inc (JASM) would improve its supply chain resilience and boost its ability to serve global customers regarding their automotive, industrial and networking applications.
JASM is TSMC’s 85 percent-owned manufacturing subsidiary in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Photo: Bloomberg
“Microchip’s reputation for providing responsible and reliable supply management is enhanced with this new TSMC manufacturing path,” Microchip senior vice president of worldwide manufacturing and technology Michael Finley said in a statement.
“Customers can have confidence when designing our products into their applications and platforms, with the support of resilient and robust manufacturing capabilities,” Finley said.
The partnership with TSMC would also ensure that customers have sufficient supply in the face of external factors such as frequently changing business conditions and natural disasters, Microchip said.
“This initiative with Microchip is further proof of TSMC’s commitment to supporting our customers’ long-term growth and innovation,” TSMC North America senior vice president of business management Rose Castanares said in the statement.
JASM’s first Kumamoto fab is scheduled to enter mass production in the fourth quarter, focusing on 40, 28, 16 and 12-nanometer chips.
The firm plans to begin construction of a second fab there by the end of this year to make advanced 6 and 7-nanometer chips.
The two Kumamoto fabs combined are expected to produce more than 100,000 12-inch equivalent wafers per month for automotive, industrial, consumer and high-performance computing applications.
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