Toshiba today announced that it has started construction of
a fabrication facility (fab), Fab 5, at Yokkaichi
Operations, its memory production facility in Mie
Prefecture, with construction work scheduled for completion
in Spring 2011.
In addition, Toshiba and SanDisk have signed primary
agreements for a new joint venture to operate in the Fab 5
facility.
Construction of the new fab reflects expectations for
increasing demand for NAND flash memory for existing and
emerging applications, such as smartphones and solid-state
drives. Adding new production capacity will ensure that
Toshiba and SanDisk are able to respond quickly to market
expansion.
The fab building will be constructed in two phases, with the
pace of investment reflecting market trends. On completion
of its second phase, Fab 5 will be comparable to Fab 4, with
a ground area of some 38,000m2. The partners have
flexibility as to the extent and timing of their respective
fab capacity ramps, and the output allocation will be in
accordance with the proportionate level of equipment
funding. The initial manufacturing process will be the
leading-edge 20-nanometer generation, with subsequent
generations to follow.
Fab 5 will have a quake-absorbing structure and is designed
to impose minimal environmental impacts. Extensive use of
LED lighting throughout the facility, energy-saving
manufacturing equipment, and use of inverter-controlled
pumps for semiconductor production equipment are expected to
cut CO2 emissions to a level 12% lower than for Fab 4.
Yokkaichi Operations currently has four NAND flash memory
fabs. Toshiba and SanDisk are currently ramping into the
unused clean room space in Fab 4, and expect to reach full
capacity of Fab 4 by the start of production in Fab 5.
Outline of Fab 5
Structure of building: 2-Story steel frame concrete, five
floors
Ground area: Approximately 38,000m2
Total floor area: Approximately 187,000m2
Construction start: July 2010
Completion of first phase: Spring 2011 (Planned)
Outline of Yokkaichi Operations
Location: 800, Yamanoisshiki-cho, Yokkaichi, Mie
Prefecture
Established: January 1992
General Manager: Koji Sato
Employees: Approximately 4,300
(as of end of March, 2010, regular employees only for
Toshiba)
Site area: Approximately 436,800 m2 (including Fab 5)
Total floor area: Approximately 647,000m2 (including Fab 5)