Snow in Texas closes Samsung, NXP, Infineon wafer fabs
Samsung, NXP Semiconductors and Infineon Semiconductors have all had their Austin wafer fabs shut down and with global chip supply already under strain this has the potential to make the chip supply situation even worse.
More than 4 million people in Texas have been left without power as demand for power soared in cold snap while gas pipes froze and wind turbines stopped working due to ice. In response, the operator of the local electricity grid, Austin Energy, ordered all industrial and semiconductor manufacturers to idle or shut down.
“With prior notice, appropriate measures have safely been taken for the facilities and wafers in production,” Samsung spokeswoman Michele Glaze told local paper the Austin-American Statesman. “We will resume production as soon as power is restored. We are discussing timing with the proper authorities,” she added.
The Governer of Texas has declared a state of emergency and the extreme weather is expected to last at least until the end of the week as another storm moves in to threaten Austin.
Samsung operates a major wafer fab in Austin and is planning a major expansion with a $10 billion investment to allow it to make 3nm chips there.
Related links and articles:
Samsung planning $10 billion 3nm fab in Texas
CEO interview: SkyWater foundry hits its stride; looks to Europe
TSMC hiring for Arizona wafer fab
Samsung included in Intel outsourcing talks
US talks to Intel, TSMC about building local foundry fabs
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