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Dresden fab could host 20-nm process, 450-mm wafers
Peter Clarke
6/18/2012 11:42 AM EDT
Without manufacturing its dead-end street
Wijburg, previously senior vice president of front-end operations for NXP Semiconductors NV and who joined GlobalFoundries in 2011, told EE Times that all manufacturing process transitions have their problems and when they are accompanied by a business change "growing pains" are to be expected. However, those dark days are behind GlobalFoundries now, which is emphasizing its growth with respect to rival United Microelectronics Corp. and customer names such as Qualcomm and STMicroelectronics that are signed up to use wafers from GlobalFoundries.
Indeed, in the second half of 2012 more than 50 percent of the output of Fab 1, which currently stands at about 50,000 wafer starts per month, will not be for AMD. "We are a global foundry," said Wijburg.
But much of the presentation that Wijburg made here was an exhortation for Europe to invest in innovation and manufacturing as he spoke of competitiveness through cooperation and clustering. Dresden, with financial stimulus from the state of Saxony, does have a very broad cluster of manufacturing oriented businesses.
Rutger Wijburg, vice president and general manager of GlobalFoundries' Fab 1
"Europe is losing its fair share of the semiconductor ecosystem," said Wijburg in a passionate ending to his presentation. "Europe is known for innovation but if it only does innovation and not manufacturing I am concerned it would be a dead-end street," he added.
Wijburg continued: "Europe should consider making big investments here. Before going to 450-mm Europe needs to prove it is competitive in 300-mm." Wijburg concluded: "For 20-nm [in Europe]; GlobalFoundries can make that decision on its own. For 450-mm wafer processing [in Europe] is more complex."
Related links and articles:
Europe asks if it is time for an 'Airbus of chips'
Intel confirms Ireland for 14-nm silicon
EuroFab450 is an ambitious dream
Abu Dhabi, Saxony invest in 'twin labs' 3-D IC project
Intel confirms Ireland for 14-nm silicon
Wijburg, previously senior vice president of front-end operations for NXP Semiconductors NV and who joined GlobalFoundries in 2011, told EE Times that all manufacturing process transitions have their problems and when they are accompanied by a business change "growing pains" are to be expected. However, those dark days are behind GlobalFoundries now, which is emphasizing its growth with respect to rival United Microelectronics Corp. and customer names such as Qualcomm and STMicroelectronics that are signed up to use wafers from GlobalFoundries.
Indeed, in the second half of 2012 more than 50 percent of the output of Fab 1, which currently stands at about 50,000 wafer starts per month, will not be for AMD. "We are a global foundry," said Wijburg.
But much of the presentation that Wijburg made here was an exhortation for Europe to invest in innovation and manufacturing as he spoke of competitiveness through cooperation and clustering. Dresden, with financial stimulus from the state of Saxony, does have a very broad cluster of manufacturing oriented businesses.
Rutger Wijburg, vice president and general manager of GlobalFoundries' Fab 1
"Europe is losing its fair share of the semiconductor ecosystem," said Wijburg in a passionate ending to his presentation. "Europe is known for innovation but if it only does innovation and not manufacturing I am concerned it would be a dead-end street," he added.
Wijburg continued: "Europe should consider making big investments here. Before going to 450-mm Europe needs to prove it is competitive in 300-mm." Wijburg concluded: "For 20-nm [in Europe]; GlobalFoundries can make that decision on its own. For 450-mm wafer processing [in Europe] is more complex."
Related links and articles:
Europe asks if it is time for an 'Airbus of chips'
Intel confirms Ireland for 14-nm silicon
EuroFab450 is an ambitious dream
Abu Dhabi, Saxony invest in 'twin labs' 3-D IC project
Intel confirms Ireland for 14-nm silicon
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