[아이뉴스24 장유미 기자] Samsung’s only overseas production base for memory semiconductors, the Xi’an semiconductor plant in China, has started a final expansion project with the goal of operating in the middle of this year. This place, where more than 10 trillion won was invested, is a place where Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the site in person last year and has a lot of affection.
According to the Global Times, China’s state-run media, on the 12th, Samsung Electronics is speeding up the installation of new equipment necessary for the expansion of the second factory in Xi’an. It is reported that new equipment has also been brought in on the 11th.
The Xi’an Semiconductor Factory is the first semiconductor line established by Samsung Electronics in China and produces 3D V-NAND. About 3,000 employees are working on a scale of 420,000 pyeong.
Starting with the groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase in 2012, the establishment of the electronic research center in 2013, mass production of the first generation V-NAND in 2014, and the post-processing line in 2015 were completed. Since then, Samsung Electronics announced a plan to invest 8 billion dollars (about 9.7 trillion won) for expansion investment in Xi’an 2 factory at the end of 2019. It is reported that Samsung Electronics has invested a total of 15 billion dollars in the first phase (7 billion dollars) and the second phase (8 billion dollars) investment in Xi’an 2 plant. The second plant in Xi’an is scheduled to be mainly mass-produced with V-NAND, just like the first plant in Xi’an (compared to mass production from 2014).
Samsung Electronics aims to complete the setting by the middle of this year and operate it within this year. When all the projects are completed, it is known that the site can produce 130,000 wafers per month. This is 40% of Samsung Electronics’ global wafer production. Combined with the 1st factory (120,000 sheets per month), it reaches 250,000 sheets per month.
In order to complete the expansion of the second factory in Xi’an in a timely manner, Samsung Electronics has continuously dispatched the head office and the technical staff of partner companies using the fast-track (immigration procedure) system, which is a company, even in a situation where it is difficult to move to the border with Corona 19. China’s Shaanxi government has also made efforts to improve logistics infrastructure by establishing a new air freight route between Xi’an, China and Tokyo, Japan so that necessary materials and equipment can be easily brought in in line with the expansion of Xi’an 2 plant.
Vice Chairman Lee also worked hard as this is the main NAND production line. In particular, in May of last year, even in the midst of the Corona 19 crisis, he visited this place and said, “If you are caught in the past or settled in the present, there is no future.” “You shouldn’t miss it,” he said. Earlier in February 2019, Vice Chairman Lee visited Xi’an, China, and encouraged executives and employees to work during the Lunar New Year holiday.
In addition to the 2nd plant in Xi’an, China, Samsung Electronics will invest 8 trillion won in its 2nd plant in Pyeongtaek Campus to establish a NAND production line in Korea with the goal of mass production in the second half of this year.
An industry insider said, “When large-scale investments at home and abroad are completed in the second half of the year, Samsung Electronics is expected to accelerate semiconductor production, centering on three production bases: Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, and Xi’an.”
/ Reporter Yoomi Jang ([email protected])