The Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer TSMC, which produces Apple’s A-series chips, said in 2020 that it would be constructing an advanced chip facility near Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States. The company then disclosed that the factories would make new 5-nanometer transistor chips, with manufacturing set to start in 2024.
The chip manufacturer is happy to celebrate the Arizona Factory’s impending completion today, though. The firm shared the adorable message via its official LinkedIn page, stating:
“Great progress continues on our 5-nanometer semiconductor fab – “FAB 21” – in #Phoenix, #Arizona. We recently celebrated placing the last beam – also known in the construction industry as a “topping” milestone – in FAB 21’s fab building with our local partners. Over 4,000 attendees were on hand for this important moment including our employees and partners. #TSMCArizona is on time and on track to bring the most advanced. leading-edge semiconductor technology to the U.S. We are deeply grateful to our partners and look forward to more successful milestones in Arizona.”
The plant, which the chip manufacturer claims cost the company a total of $12 billion, will be the first of its kind in the United States to mass-produce 5nm chips. The main chip supplier to Apple is reported to be TSMC. Since the A14 Bionic and M1, Apple’s most recent chips have all been produced utilising a 5nm technology.
The company’s Arizona facility would begin mass production in the first quarter of 2024, according to TSMC Chairman Mark Liu’s announcement from the previous year.
The chips made in Arizona are likely purchased by Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Apple. The new Arizona facility should theoretically enable Apple to produce its 5nm bespoke silicon chips for the first time in the country.
Beginning with the M2 Pro or M3 chip, Apple is anticipated to switch its proprietary silicon to a 3nm process. By early 2024, when the Arizona factory begins mass production, Apple will undoubtedly need a supply of 5nm chips from TSMC because the A16 processor in the iPhone 14 Pro is anticipated to be produced using a 5nm process.
The Arizona facility will be the business’s second production location in the United States. Although TSMC’s primary factories are in Taiwan, the company also has a factory centre in Washington, a design centre in Austin, Texas, and two design centres in San Jose, California. For more updates, follow TechGenies.
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