In 2010, Intel launched the first of its semiconductor production in China factory - Fab 68. The factory is located near the city of Dalian. It is capable of processing 300 mm wafers using a 65 nm process technology. This production cost Intel's $ 2.5 billion. The main products of the factory were Intel chipsets . But computers do not bring us as much money as is necessary for the development of production. Therefore, the company decided to restructure the factory for the production of memory type 3D NAND.
It is interesting to note that all previous years, Intel has reduced the its participation in a joint venture with company Micron IM Flash Technologies (IMFT). It is almost completely shifted factories for the production of flash memory on the shoulders of Micron. The narrowing of the PC market and growing demand for SSDs have adjusted Intel production plans . According to the company, in 2015, each quarter in the annual comparison increased profitability from sales of SSD Intel to double digits.
The modernization of the factory Fab 68 company plans to invest about $ 5.5 billion. The company will start production of 3D NAND-volatile memory in the second half of next year. It should be noted, the company is not talking about the plans for the production of potentially more interesting memory 3D XPoint, but only about memory 3D NAND, which at this stage is a multilayer chips with vertical through-connection. According to the plans of Intel and Micron, the partners intend to proceed in the current quarter to the mass production of 256-Gbit MLC 3D NAND and 384-Gbit TLC 3D NAND. It will be one of the densest in the industry solutions.