The new factory, valued at three billion dollars, officially began production on Friday of a new generation of microprocessors for personal computers, laptops, servers, and other computing devices at Intel’s first mass production facility for 45-nanometer processors in Chandler, Arizona.
The three billion dollar factory is known as Fab 32, and it will utilize Intel’s innovative 45 nm process technology based on the company’s revolutionary achievements in the ‘re-discovery’ of certain areas of transistors in its processors that reduce energy leakage from transistors. The 45-nanometer transistors use a High-k hafnium-based material for the dielectric structures of the gate electrode and metallic materials for the electrode itself. These transistors are so small that more than two million of them could fit in the period at the end of this sentence.
Millions of these tiny transistors will be the core component of Intel’s faster, more energy-efficient lead-free and halogen-free processors designed for personal computers, laptops, and servers, as well as ultra-low power processors for mobile internet and consumer electronic devices, and affordable personal computers. The introduction of the first 45-nanometer processors is planned for November 12. “The opening of Fab 32 in Arizona is a testament to Intel’s ongoing investment in our strategically most important advantage – the most advanced manufacturing network in the world that does not pollute the environment. The marvel of 45 nm technology and our new transistor design allow us to offer energy-efficient high-performance processors to customers in all market segments, from the strongest servers to a variety of mobile devices and everything in between,” stated Paul Otellini, Intel’s President and CEO.
