After lengthy evaluations and negotiations, Samsung last year settled on a site in Taylor, Texas for its second chip manufacturing plant in the US. The company is now looking to expand the site’s footprint and has sought approval from the local government, Korean media reports.
According to the Korea JoongAng Daily, Samsung has applied to increase the land area for the new semiconductor campus by around 14 percent. It is seeking to add 176.76 acres (71.5 hectares) of land to the investment zone. The existing site is spread across 1,268 acres. The factory, construction for which has already begun, will sit on 138 acres of land within the site.
The new report further states that Samsung’s proposed expansion of the under-construction chip campus in Taylor is one of the agendas for today’s city council meeting. The publication saw related documents that contained an aerial view of the location, complete with the existing and proposed site footprint. As you can see in the image embedded below, the expansion area in the new site is marked in red.
Samsung plans to invest $17 billion in the new chip plant in Taylor
Samsung spent several months last year exploring various sites across the US for its new chip factory. It eventually settled on this site in Taylor, Texas. The company considered factors like the existing semiconductor ecosystem of the state, infrastructure stability, and government support before reaching a decision.
Texas is already home to the Korean firm’s first semiconductor plant in the US. It is located in Austin, about 25 kilometers away from the new site. Dell has its headquarters in the state, while Apple is also constructing a new plant in Texas. The location facilitates easier access to big chip clients, such as Qualcomm and Tesla.
Samsung plans to invest $17 billion in the new chip campus. It will manufacture advanced logic semiconductor solutions — 5nm or smaller — there. The company has already begun mass production of 3nm chips in one of its South Korean factories. By the time the Taylor factory is operational, it may be ready to produce 2nm solutions. The Korean behemoth is aiming to launch 2nm semiconductors in 2025.
Samsung’s arch-rival in the chip manufacturing space TSMC is also planning to move to 2nm technologies around the same time. Moreover, the Taiwanese giant is expanding its presence in the US too. But it has delayed the construction due to sluggish demand for semiconductors. Intel has also delayed its $20 billion project in Ohio.
Meanwhile, Samsung is looking to expand its site. But industry specialists believe this expansion is part of the company’s long-term vision. It has already announced a $355 billion investment in the areas of semiconductor, biopharmaceutical, and AI (artificial intelligence).