Siltronic doubles Singapore footprint with launch of 2-billion-euro wafer plant
The facility in Tampines is expected to churn out some 100,000 wafers a month by year’s end
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GERMAN silicon-wafer manufacturer Siltronic doubled its manufacturing footprint in Singapore with the launch of a two-billion-euro (S$2.9 billion) wafer plant on Wednesday (Jun 12).
The 150,000-square-metre facility is the company’s third wafer-fabrication plant in Singapore, sited next to its existing plants in Tampines Wafer Fab Park. Combined, Siltronic’s three wafer fabs here now span 300,000 sq m.
The new facility will fabricate 300-mm wafers used in the production of semiconductor chips, and will have the capacity to churn out some 100,000 wafers a month by year-end.
As previously announced, it is also expected to create more than 600 new jobs by 2028, ranging from research to engineering roles.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, the guest of honour at the launch, noted that the facility is part of Singapore’s continued partnerships with global semiconductor companies. This sector remains a key focus for the government.
“This Fab-Next facility, Siltronic’s latest and largest investment in Singapore, will add to the vibrancy and competitiveness of Singapore’s semiconductor ecosystem and create good jobs for our people,” he added, referring to the name of the new plant.
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The facility is also the first in Singapore to have silicon wafer epitaxy capabilities, a technology now being used in Siltronic’s plants elsewhere. The epitaxy process creates wafers with better electrical conductivity, and can thus be used in manufacturing “leading-edge” chips used in personal computers, smartphones and artificial intelligence (AI) servers, Siltronic CEO Michael Heckmeier said.
Asked about his outlook for the global semiconductor industry, given the weak demand for chips, he pointed to the “cyclical” nature of the sector. “We are still in the end of a down-cycle; 2024 is a transitional year, and we’re still preparing for the big boost to come – and that will happen next year, induced by megatrends such as AI, electromobility (and) digitalisation.”
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