Intel begins construction of Fab 68

Intel has begun construction of a 300mm wafer fabrication facility in Dalian, China, the company's first in Asia.

The US$2.5 billion project, named Fab 68, spans 163,000 sqm of factory space and hosts a 15,000 sqm clean room. It is projected to be operational in 2010.

"The scope and scale of our global manufacturing network gives Intel the ability to provide customers with leading-edge, energy-efficient products in high volume," said Craig Barrett, chairman, Intel Corporation. "Fab 68 will have world-class infrastructure and be an integral part of our global manufacturing network while bringing us closer to our customers and partners in China."

Intel's investment in Fab 68 sets its total investment in China to close to US$4 billion. It has two assembly and test plants in Shanghai and Chengdu, along with R&D centres and labs in Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere in China.