n 2003,
Intel dedicated
a $2 billion, 1-million-sq.-ft. (92,900-sq.-m.) fab on its Ronler
Acres Campus in Hillsboro, Ore., that will concentrate on development
of 300-mm. wafers. (The company already had one 300-mm. fab there.)
In March 2004, the company followed up on that investment with the
move of its flash memory production operations from Santa Clara,
Calif., to the Hillsboro campus.
 |
| Intel is in the process of moving
flash memory production from Santa Clara, Calif., to its Ronler
Acres Campus in Hillsboro, Ore., the site of its recently
completed $2-billion D1D Process Development Fab (shown under
construction in 2002) and one other 300-mm. fab. |
The shift will mean 300 new jobs over the next
three to four years. It also marks the surpassing of the $11 billion
mark in overall investment since the company first arrived in Oregon
some 30 years ago. The company employs 14,500 people at its seven
Oregon locations.
"Our decisions to continue investing in Intel
Oregon, the company's largest site in the world, have been based
on the state's supportive business climate over the years and the
support of key public policy leaders," said Bill MacKenzie, communications
manager for Intel Oregon.
In May 2004, the company revealed it would
invest another $2 billion in Leixlip, Ireland, for further 300-mm.-related
fab facilities. The company will receive grants and other incentives
from the Irish Development Authority.
And in April 2004, Intel began a $2-billion
conversion of its Chandler, Ariz., 200-mm. fab to 300-mm. capability.
It is the first full-scale plant conversion project for the company,
and is expected to be complete in late 2005. The company operates
one other 300-mm. fab, in Rio Rancho, N.M.
"This conversion will not only enable us to
improve our capital efficiency by giving us more than twice the
capacity at significantly lower costs, but it will enable us to
utilize our experienced and talented work force in Arizona," said
Bob Baker, Intel senior vice president and general manager, Technology
and Manufacturing Group.
