As far back as 2020, the Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing, TSMC, which makes Apple’s A-series chips, confirmed its plans to build an advanced chip factory in Phoenix, Arizona, the United States. Then, the firm revealed that the plants would produce new 5-nanometer transistor chips, and production is expected to begin by 2024.
However, today the chip maker is pleased to celebrate the Arizona Factory as its near completion. 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 own 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.”
According to the chip maker, the plant cost the firm a total sum of $12 billion and will be the first factory of its kind to mass-produce 5nm chips in the United States. However, it is known that TSMC is Apple’s major chip supplier. Apple’s most recent chips, dating back to the A14 Bionic and M1, are all manufactured using a 5nm process.
Meanwhile, TSMC Chairman Mark Liu announced last year that the company’s Arizona plant would start mass production in the first quarter of 2024. Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Apple are likely customers for the chips manufactured in Arizona. The new Arizona plant will theoretically allow Apple to manufacture its 5nm custom silicon chips in the United States for the first time.
Apple is expected to transition its custom silicon to a 3nm process beginning with the M2 Pro or M3 chip. Because the A16 chip in the iPhone 14 Pro is expected to be manufactured using a 5nm process, Apple will almost certainly require a supply of 5nm chips from TSMC by early 2024, when the Arizona plant opens for mass production.
TSMC’s main factories are in Taiwan, but it also has a factory center in Washington, as well as design centers in Austin, Texas, and San Jose, California, so the Arizona facility will be the company’s second manufacturing site in the United States. Follow TechGenies for more updates.
