TSMC recently opened its first Arizona chip factory. | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company/Facebook
TSMC recently opened its first Arizona chip factory. | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company/Facebook
The first piece of equipment was added to TSMC's technologically advanced chip factory in Phoenix recently.
The multinational semiconductor manufacturing and design company revealed plans to add a second factory by 2026, invest a total of $40 billion, and create 4,500 jobs at its Arizona facility, according to a news release from Gov. Doug Ducey's (R-AZ) office. Ducey and dignitaries including President Joe Biden, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, governor-elect Katie Hobbs, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, TSMC Chairman Mark Liu, TSMC founder Morris Chang, and members of Arizona's congressional delegation were present at the event.
"It's a special day to see this vision take shape," Ducey said in the news release. "When TSMC set out to build its new high-tech fab, they had all 50 states to choose from. They chose Arizona because of our robust and growing talent pool, unbeatable business environment, and unparalleled quality of life. As the U.S. semiconductor industry continues to advance in the years ahead, Arizona will be the engine powering its growth."
The TSMC factory in north Phoenix will use four-nanometer technology for semiconductor wafer fabrication, the news release noted. Ducey initially announced the deal with the company in 2020; it is the largest foreign investment in state history.
"We are gathered here under the beautiful Arizona sky celebrating a historic milestone," Liu said at the event. "This is a milestone for TSMC, for the state of Arizona, and for the semiconductor industry in the U.S. We are well on our way to building the most advanced semiconductor technology in the United States right here in the great state of Arizona.
"This fab is historic. We will produce the most advanced semiconductor chip at four nanometers when it goes into production in 2024. It will power the innovations that will improve every aspect of your life. It will also represent the largest foreign direct investments in Arizona history. We want to especially recognize the exceptional hard work of Sec. Raimondo, Gov. Ducey, Sen. (Mark) Kelly, and Sen. (Kyrsten) Sinema."
Raimondo said the investment will be revolutionary.
"This investment in Arizona and future investments are going to transform Arizona's semiconductor industry," she said in the news release. "The cutting-edge chips that are going to be produced right here in Arizona will be more advanced than any other chips that have ever been manufactured on U.S. soil."
Apple officials recently revealed that the company will purchase chips made in Arizona, according to the news release. Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke at the event.
"I would like to thank Sec. Raimondo, Gov. Ducey, governor-elect Hobbs, and Sen. Kelly for your leadership," he said. "This is an incredibly exciting day for America, for Arizona, and for Apple. Today is only the beginning. Today, we are combining TSMC's expertise with the unrivaled ingenuity of American workers. We are investing in a stronger, brighter future. We are planting a seed in the Arizona desert. And at Apple, we are proud to contribute to its growth."
Ducey said there are many people to thank for the success of TSMC's investment in Arizona.
"I would like to thank Chairman Liu, Dr. Chang, and TSMC, as well as the many partners who made this project possible," he said. "Arizona looks forward to a long and prosperous relationship with TSMC for many years to come."
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