Intel Mum About Capex, Ireland Fab Plans
By Mark LaPedus, SemiMD senior editor
Intel Corp. executives remained quiet about reports that the chip giant will cut its capital spending. But the firm appears to have pushed out the ramp of the new 22nm tri-gate technology at the company’s Ireland fab, according to an analyst.
At the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco Tuesday (Sept. 13), Intel executives were mum about the chip giant’s capital spending plans for 2011. In a brief interview after a keynote speech, Intel CEO Paul Otellini declined to comment and deflected questions about capital spending cuts and the Ireland fab.
Reports have recently circulated that Intel will cut its aggressive capital spending plans in 2011 amid a sluggish PC climate. There have also been reports that Intel would delay the ramp of Fab 24 in Leixlip, Ireland. At one time, the fab in Ireland was targeted to manufacture processors based on the company’s new 22nm process.
In its latest roadmap, Intel still plans to ramp up its 22nm process in five fabs. In May, the chip giant rolled out a vertical tri-gate transistor at the 20nm generation node.
Intel ‘‘did push out 22nm production in Ireland as far as I can tell,’’ said G. Dan Hutcheson, chief executive of VLSI Research Inc., a market research firm. ‘’Ireland has been skipped’’ for Intel’s 22nm production, he added.
Hutcheson said he does not believe that Intel will cut its capital spending in 2011 despite the reported news on the fab in Ireland. ‘’The capex cut is a complete fabrication’’ among some media outlets, he said.
Intel’s capital spending for 2011 is expected to be a whopping $10.5 billion, plus or minus $400 million.
Overall, Hutcheson said he sees little or no impact on semiconductor equipment orders at Intel. ‘’There have not been any tool push outs at Intel,’’ he added.
Mark Bohr
Mark Bohr, Intel senior fellow and director of process architecture and integration, outlined the company’s 22nm process at IDF. In the presentation, Bohr said the company initially plans to manufacture 22nm products in its D1D fab in Oregon, followed by the D1C plant in the same location.
On its roadmap, Intel is expected to ramp up 22nm production at three other plants, including Fab 12 and Fab 32 in Arizona, and Fab 28 in Israel.
Bohr’s presentation excluded the fab in Ireland. Asked if there would be other fabs beyond those listed for future 22nm production, Bohr in a question and answer session said: ‘’I cannot comment’’ on the fab ramp.
Bohr did say the 22nm process is on schedule and has not been delayed. Intel’s 3-D transistor design represents a fundamental departure from the two-dimensional planar transistor structure.
The first processor based on the technology is code-named “Ivy Bridge.” Ivy Bridge is slated for high-volume production readiness by the end of this year.
Tags: Intel, Otellini, semiconductor equipment