Re: rule #4 re: TSMC
in response to
by
posted on
Jul 10, 2015 10:11PM
WaferTech is an 8inch fab. POET is not working with that wafer size. But it sure looks like an old FAB.
''Initial phases of the program will be performed using 3-inch wafers but from the onset the program will work towards the objective of achieving the full process flow on 6-inch wafers. Virtually all production GaAs-based processes are currently manufactured using 6-inch wafers. The Company believes that using BAE Systems’ manufacturing and test capabilities will help the Company to build devices that dramatically demonstrate the disruptive nature of the technology.''
WaferTech, a subsidiary of TSMC, is a pure-play semiconductor foundry located in Camas, Washington, USA. It is the largest pure-play foundry in the United States. The facility employs 1100 workers.[citation needed]
WaferTech was established in June 1996 as a joint venture with TSMC, Altera, Analog Devices, and ISSI as key partners. The four companies along with minor individual investors invested US$1.2 billion into this venture, which was at the time the single largest startup investment in the state of Washington. The company started production in July 1998 in its 200 mm (8 inch) semiconductor fabrication plant. Its first product was a 0.35 micrometer part for Altera.[citation needed]
TSMC bought out the joint venture partners in 2000 and acquired full control, and currently operates it as a fully owned subsidiary.[33]
WaferTech is based in Camas, 20 miles (30 km) outside of Portland, Oregon. The WaferTech campus contains a 1 million square foot (90,000 m²) complex housed on 260 acres (1 km²). The main fabrication facility consists of a 130,000 square feet (12,000 m²) 200 mm (8 inch) wafer fabrication plant.[citation needed]