TSMC Reportedly Mulls Advanced Chip Packaging Facility in Arizona

TSMC 3D IC packaging tech
(Image credit: TSMC)

TSMC is in talks with Arizona officials to build its chip packaging facility in the state, Katie Hobbs, governor of Arizona, said in Taipei after visiting the world's No.1 foundry's headquarters, reports Bloomberg. If the plan comes to fruition, then TSMC's will have a vertically integrated chip production chain in the USA for the first time ever.

TSMC has built Fab 21 in Arizona and is currently installing production tools there. The company is also building up the second phase of the fab and has approved plans to invest $40 billion in these two production facilities. But the company apparently does not want to stop there and is discussing the possibility of building an advanced packaging fab in the state, too, as this will help it to assemble complex system-in-packages for its clients from the U.S. on American soil.

Traditionally, TSMC has declined to directly admit talks about a new production facility. In its statement, TSMC conveyed its gratitude for the productive interactions with Governor Hobbs and indicated that it remains optimistic about fostering even closer ties in the coming years.

"We believe the dialogues that we held during this visit will help us to work together even more closely in the future," a statement by the company published by Bloomberg reads.

Hobbs joins a wider U.S. team visiting Taiwan, where conversations between authorities and businesses center on Taiwan's pivotal position in the semiconductor industry. In addition to working with TSMC on chip production, Laurie E. Locascio, the Under Secretary of Commerce, mentioned that the U.S. is initiating R&D discussions with TSMC, aiming to integrate more technology from the world's leading chip contract manufacturer domestically. 

Anton Shilov
Contributing Writer

Anton Shilov is a contributing writer at Tom’s Hardware. Over the past couple of decades, he has covered everything from CPUs and GPUs to supercomputers and from modern process technologies and latest fab tools to high-tech industry trends.

  • peachpuff
    Did they find those high skilled low paid workers yet to fill those jobs?
    Reply
  • helper800
    peachpuff said:
    Did they find those high skilled low paid workers yet to fill those jobs?
    Yeah, they are flying them in from Taiwan.
    Reply
  • hotaru251
    hope don't need a lot of water given arizona already having water problem due to shrinking of arizona river.
    Reply
  • ottonis
    That's a smart move by TSMC and the US, as building up a fully integrated, state-of-the-art production chain will undoubtedly make both partners less susceptible to whatever geopolitical developments the world may face in the foreseeable future.
    Reply
  • Francis412
    peachpuff said:
    Did they find those high skilled low paid workers yet to fill those jobs?
    They are streaming across the US Mexican border now.
    Reply
  • Francis412
    hotaru251 said:
    hope don't need a lot of water given arizona already having water problem due to shrinking of arizona river.
    Correction the Colorado river. Arizona never had any water of their own.
    Reply
  • Co BIY
    peachpuff said:
    Did they find those high skilled low paid workers yet to fill those jobs?

    Have you seen the Arizona border lately ?

    US really in no position to claim the high ground for our workers.
    Reply
  • Co BIY
    ottonis said:
    That's a smart move by TSMC and the US, as building up a fully integrated, state-of-the-art production chain will undoubtedly make both partners less susceptible to whatever geopolitical developments the world may face in the foreseeable future.

    Much of TSMC's current chain is in mainland China. They may need a diversity of suppliers for their Taiwanese fabs as much as their US one. Always better to have choices and multiple bidders.
    Reply