TSMC 2nm Update: Two Fabs in Construction, One Awaiting Government Approval
by Anton Shilov on January 19, 2024 11:15 AM EST- Posted in
- Semiconductors
- TSMC
- 2nm
- N2
- N2P
When Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is prepping to roll out an all-new process technology, it usually builds a new fab to meet demand of its alpha customers and then either adds capacity by upgrading existing fabs or building another facility. With N2 (2nm-class), the company seems to be taking a slightly different approach as it is already constructing two N2-capable fabs and is awaiting for a government approval for the third one.
We are also preparing our N2 volume production starting in 2025," said Mark Liu, TSMC's outgoing chairman, at the company's earnings call with financial analysts and investors. "We plan to build multiple fabs or multiple phases of 2nm technologies in both Hsinchu and Kaohsiung science parks to support the strong structural demand from our customers. […] "In the Taichung Science Park, the government approval process is ongoing and is also on track."
TSMC is gearing up to construct two fabrication plants capable of producing N2 chips in Taiwan. The first fab is planned to be located near Baoshan in Hsinchu County, neighboring its R1 research and development center, which was specifically build to develop N2 technology and its successor. This facility is expected to commence high-volume manufacturing (HVM) of 2nm chips in the latter half of 2025. The second N2-capable fabrication plant by is to be located in the Kaohsiung Science Park, part of the Southern Taiwan Science Park near Kaohsiung. The initiation of HVM at this plant is projected to be slightly later, likely around 2026.
In addition, the foundry is working to get government approvals to build a yet another N2-capable fab in the Taichung Science Park. If the company starts to construct this facility in 2025, the fab could go online as soon as in 2027.
With three fabs capable of making chis using its 2nm process technologies, TSMC is poised to offer vast 2nm capacity for years to come.
TSMC expects to start HVM using its N2 process technology that uses gate-all-around (GAA) nanosheet transistors around the second half of 2025. TSMC's 2nd generation 2nm-class process technology — N2P — will add backside power delivery. This technology will be used for mass production in 2026.
Source: TSMC
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Threska - Friday, January 19, 2024 - link
Build on a boat, so if things hit the fan, they can just float away from the mess.twtech - Friday, January 19, 2024 - link
Or, China could steal the boat and tow it back to the mainland.drwho9437 - Friday, January 19, 2024 - link
TSMCs fabs are nearly worthless to China. The day they invade the service contracts are toast. Without service all the tools will be dead within a month maybe two.Well they will just copy them I hear you say. If it were that easy they would have their on ALDs, EUV steppers and more. They don't because it isn't easy.
The damage an invasion would do to the world economy would be very great, but the world is now building capacity elsewhere. People forget Korea quite a lot. Micron, Intel and GF matter quite a lot too. But yes the world will be in trouble without UMC and TSMC; but then so much manufacturing of so many things is done in China I'm not sure chips would be the first things on people's lips. It would be pharmaceutical precursors probably. Nitrile rubber. Remember masks?
Anyway you can't really steal and take over a foundary unless everyone agreeing to keep it alive stays on board and given it is mostly Japanese, EU and US firms that isn't going happen.
Papaspud - Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - link
Correct- those production lines have to to run perfectly, or they are done. They had that tiny voltage fluctuation a year or 2 ago and it wiped out a months worth of chips. Now imagine how long if ever it would take to get them running after a "war"..sharath.naik - Saturday, January 20, 2024 - link
It does not matter as, TSMC is only the manufacturer. The tool used to manufacture is still built in EU. So, if things hit the fan, then China will have the existing machines, but only until it breaks down.Piotrek54321 - Friday, January 19, 2024 - link
The bleeding edge will remain in Taiwan, as it ensures its independence. If not for the semiconductor industry, I believe China could've already invaded.StevoLincolnite - Friday, January 19, 2024 - link
Just imagine how much of a mess the market would become if China did disrupt Taiwans chip manufacturing.Would make the COVID+Crypto craze seem like childs play.
Threska - Friday, January 19, 2024 - link
China has a "water" problem.https://youtu.be/oupSYGUL0dE
sharath.naik - Saturday, January 20, 2024 - link
No, it's happening within 10 years. At least that is the plan, given that China pulled bizarre shenanigans to stir trouble on Indian border to use it as an excuse to break agreements and build troops on the border. There is only one reason that makes sense, they need troops on that border (guarding the flank) when they launch their action on Taiwan with most of their troops.PeachNCream - Sunday, January 21, 2024 - link
To be fair, it is a breakaway province of China populated by people that have differing opinions about the structure of governance. I hope that those differences can be resolved through diplomacy, but in the end, as long as the collective West keeps tampering in internal Chinese affairs for their own profit and gain, the situation will remain a possible flashpoint for dangerous military escalation. If the US were to reconsider its involvement and show mutual respect for other nations, none of this would be a problem and I would think both the US and China could operate as allies instead of antagonists. That decision to act as a responsible, mature nation resides with US policymakers and elected officials and we all know how that goes when US voters are left to their own devices to select those policy-setting people. It's just as bad as the SUVs they drive and all of the waste they engage in while living selfishly and thoughtlessly.