EXPANSION OF FACILITY TO BOOST CAPACITY

GlobalFoundries, the world’s third-largest contract chipmaker, has had a presence in Singapore since 2010. 

It runs one of the largest wafer plants here and can produce about 1.5 million 300mm wafers annually.

Last year, the firm added 23,000 sqm – equivalent to about four football fields – of space to boost capacity amid a boom in demand.

The company manufactures integrated circuits on wafers designed for smart mobile devices and markets like automotive, aerospace and defence. Some of its biggest customers include semiconductor companies such as Qualcomm.

JTC played a “very key role” in building GlobalFoundries’ US$4 billion expanded fabrication plant, said its senior vice president Tan Yew Kong.

He told CNA that Singapore, which has 55 years of semiconductor history, was able to provide a network to supply materials and infrastructure.

“We are definitely here to stay, and looking at the market sentiment of regionalisation, friendshoring, all these approaches – definitely, having a location like Singapore to support the global footprint is a very necessary thing,” he added.

Friendshoring refers to the act of manufacturing and sourcing from countries with similar geopolitical stances.

Mr Tan pointed out that the industry is set to almost double from US$600 million to US$1 trillion, which means building a factory in advance is “very important”.

“We are pacing ourselves so that when the market is there, our toolsets are all turned on, ready for it. The good news is that actually, our tools are here. We just need to fire it up and get it ready,” he added.