Intel, the once-pioneer in chip manufacturing, declared on Friday the commencement of high-volume production utilizing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machinery at its colossal $18.5 billion facility located in Ireland. The company’s overarching objective is to reclaim its former preeminent status within the industry. These EUV tools boast an astonishing level of precision, theoretically possessing the capability to target an individual’s thumb with a laser beam emitted from the moon. Intel envisions that the deployment of these cutting-edge tools, enabling the construction of five generations of technology in a mere four years, will position them at the forefront of the competitive chip industry once more.
This groundbreaking foray into large-scale manufacturing with EUV technology marks Intel’s inaugural endeavor, a monumental decision for the company as articulated by Ann Kelleher, Intel’s general manager of technology development. The meticulous development of this technology was concluded at Intel’s research hub nestled in Oregon, now poised for dissemination across global sites for production integration. The Dutch manufacturer, ASML, stands as the mastermind behind these formidable EUV machines. These mammoth contraptions, rivaling the size of a bus, command an approximate price tag of $150 million each, solidifying their status as one of the world’s most exorbitant industrial instruments.
Intel’s strategic vision extends beyond its Irish borders, with plans for a significant expansion across Europe encompassing the construction of three new facilities. A substantial chip complex in Germany, coupled with a semiconductor assembly and testing facility in Poland, will materialize through the infusion of funds facilitated by the European Union (EU). This move reflects the EU’s strategic push to diminish its reliance on U.S. and Asian supply chains. These forthcoming facilities, in conjunction with the existing one in Ireland, are poised to establish a pioneering “end-to-end advanced semiconductor manufacturing value chain in Europe,” according to Intel.
The Irish facility, following expansion, will effectively double Intel’s manufacturing footprint. Its current workforce of 4,900 employees, constituting half of Intel’s European personnel, is slated to be bolstered by an additional 1,600 jobs. Intel’s strategic determinations augur as a momentous development for the semiconductor industry at large, and are anticipated to serve as a catalyst propelling Intel toward the realization of its aspiration to reclaim its erstwhile leadership position.
The ambitious EUV production facility of Intel in Ireland marks a pivotal step towards reasserting its dominance in the chip industry, fostering excitement and optimism for the company’s future endeavors.
Source: Reuters
