TSMC plans for 1nm-capable gigafab in Tainan, says report

The world’s leading foundry TSMC has selected Shalun near Tainan in Taiwan as the location for Fab25, its 1nm gigafab, according to Taiwan’s United Daily News.

The plan is to build a gigafab that can accommodate six 300mm production lines, the publication said without naming its sources. It quoted TSMC neither confirming nor denying the decision but saying that there are many considerations in choosing the location of the plant. “The company uses Taiwan as its main base and does not rule out any possibility,” the articles quoted the company saying.

UDN said that TSMC has proposed to the Science Park authority that it will establish a 1.4nm and 1nm site in Shalun. Another fab at Zhongke is taking the lead in developing the 1.4nm manufacturing process which will be transferred into the P1, P2, P3 fabs at Shalun with P4, P5 and P6 used for 1nm production. The plan is still fluid and it could be that P1 through P3 will be used for 1nm and P4 through P6 for a 0.7nm manufacturing process.

No timetable was given for the construction of Fab25. UDN said that plan would be demonstrating TSMC’s determination to remain based in Taiwan and develop its leading-edge processes there. It has gone through a spate of investment in the US, Japan and Germany but generally appears intent on transfering manufacturing processes from behind the leading-edge into these fabs.