Chipmaker Intel (INTC.O) said on Friday it has begun high-volume production using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines at its $18.5 billion Irish factory. The US company said the EUV tool, which is theoretically accurate enough to hit a person's thumb with a laser pointer from the moon, will play a key role in achieving Intel's goal of delivering five generations of technology within four years.
The work in Ireland is Intel's first attempt to use EUV technology for high-volume production.
Intel, once the world's leading chipmaker, has lost its lead, but the company says it is using its manufacturing technology to regain the lead, which it says will rival TSMC's cutting-edge technology.
Ann Kelleher, general manager of technology development at Intel, said in a statement: "This is a milestone for Intel and the entire semiconductor industry. Moving Intel 4 processor technology to Ireland for high-volume production is a big step towards enabling cutting-edge manufacturing in Europe."
The factory, located in the town of Leixlip outside Dublin, is Intel's first high-volume production site using ultraviolet (EUV) manufacturing processes (Intel 4). This advanced manufacturing technology will be used to produce the upcoming notebook computer chip "Meteor Lake", which will provide technical support for PCs containing artificial intelligence technology.
Intel typically determines new manufacturing processes at a research and development site in Hillsboro, Oregon, a suburb of Portland. Once it's fixed, Intel exports the manufacturing templates to other factories around the world, such as in Ireland or in Arizona in the United States.
The EUV equipment, made by Dutch manufacturer ASML (ASML.AS), is the size of a bus and costs about $150 million each, making it one of the most expensive tools in the world.
In addition to its existing facilities in Ireland, Intel plans to build a large chip complex in Germany and semiconductor assembly and test facilities in Poland. The new factories will benefit from relaxed EU funding rules and subsidies as the bloc looks to reduce its reliance on U.S. and Asian supplies.
Intel said the three plants will help create a first-of-its-kind end-to-end advanced semiconductor manufacturing value chain in Europe.
The new factory will double Intel's production area in Ireland. Intel is one of Ireland's largest multinational companies with 4,900 employees in Ireland, accounting for about half of its total European workforce. Over time, Intel plans to add an additional 1,600 jobs at the facility.
Visit the purchase page:
Intel Flagship Store