Yangtze River Storage Technology (YMTC) is considering developing its own DRAM manufacturing technology, and may enter directly 18/20nm production, according to the China-based memory chipmaker.

Charles Kau, which has become an executive director of the China-based YMTC since February 2017, told Digitimes that YMTC is committed to developing production technologies for memory chips in-house. In addition to 3D NAND flash technology which YMTC has assigned a group of 500 R&D staff to develop, the company is mulling the development of DRAM manufacturing technology in-house, according to Kau.

In addition, YMTC remains interested in partnering with Micron Technology, which will put both companies in a win-win situation, Kau indicated. Micron will be the best technology partner for YMTC, and working with YMTC will help Micron expand further the US vendor's competitiveness against Korea-based companies, Kau said.

Kau previously served as chairman of Taiwan's Inotera Memories and president of Nanya Technology. Inotera is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Micron.

YMTC will be able to provide samples of 32-layer 3D NAND at the end of 2017 - a milestone for the company, Kau noted. YMTC will also develop 64-layer 3D NAND flash chips, and is looking to have its technology lag behind that of the world's major NAND flash vendors by just one generation, Kau said.

YMTC will have two manufacturing sites in China - one in Wuhan and the other in Nanjing, Kau disclosed. Each site is designed for production capacity of 300,000 12-inch wafers monthly.

YMTC's in-house developed technologies will not go into production until they become immature, Kau reiterated. YMTC also does not intend to disrupt the memory market to drive down chip prices, Kau said.

Tsinghua Unigroup is the largest shareholder of YMTC with a 51% stake. Other shareholders include the Big Fund, Hubei IC Industry Investment Fund and Hubei Science & Technology Investment Group, according to Kau.

By: DocMemory
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