Under an agreement with the Irish Development Authority (IDA), Intel also plans to insert 65-nm process technology within its existing fab in Ireland, dubbed Fab 24, based in Leixlip. The Fab 24 plant, which is set to go into production, is a high-volume 90-nm fab.

The company plans to build the new Fab 24-2 fab module on the Ireland campus. The investment will add an additional 60,000-square-feet of manufacturing cleanroom space, plus the required manufacturing equipment to enable 65-nm technology within both Fab 24-2 and existing Fab 24 facilities. Production for the new Fab 24-2 module is expected to begin the first half of 2006.

Under terms of an agreement with the IDA, Intel will receive grants and other potential incentives as it continues to invest in Ireland. Intel's 2004 capital expenditure forecast range of $3.6 billion to $4 billion will accommodate the spending for the early stages of this project.

"We are about to begin production in Fab 24, our newest 300mm manufacturing facility," said Bob Baker, senior vice president of Intel's Technology Manufacturing Group, in a statement. "This additional investment in the factory will help ensure that we have leading-edge manufacturing capacity to meet customer needs in 2006. The performance of our workforce in Ireland and our relationship with the government helped make this investment decision possible."

Since 1989 Intel has invested approximately $6 billion in its Ireland operations. Approximately 4,700 Intel employees and contractors work at the Ireland site, mostly in Leixlip. This campus includes Irish Fab Operations (Fab10 and Fab14) along with the newly built Fab 24. The company also operates a circuit design center focused on communications products in Shannon.

By: DocMemory
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