Core Viewpoint - Amkor Technology is set to build a $2 billion advanced packaging and testing facility in Peoria, Arizona, expected to begin production in early 2028, marking a significant step in the U.S. semiconductor supply chain [2][3] Group 1: Facility and Investment - The new facility will occupy 104 acres and aims to address the bottleneck in semiconductor packaging, which has been a limiting factor for companies like Nvidia in producing AI chips [2] - The project received approval from the Peoria City Council on August 29, with plans modified to utilize a larger site in the city's innovation core [2] Group 2: Industry Context - The facility represents a major shift in the U.S. semiconductor landscape, as it aims to catch up with the advanced packaging capabilities predominantly held by Taiwan and South Korea [2] - Amkor's new plant will support high-performance packaging platforms, including TSMC's CoWoS and InFO technologies, which are critical for Nvidia's data center GPUs and Apple's latest chips [3] Group 3: Strategic Partnerships and Support - TSMC has signed a memorandum to transfer its packaging operations from its Phoenix fab to Amkor, reducing the turnaround time for wafers that currently takes weeks to return from Asia [3] - The expansion is partially funded by the CHIPS Act, which includes $407 million and federal tax incentives, aimed at maintaining the U.S. position in the increasingly complex chip industry [3] Group 4: Challenges Ahead - Despite the progress, the opening date in 2028 indicates that the industry may continue to face challenges, particularly in alleviating GPU shortages and AI server bottlenecks, which still rely on established Asian packaging lines [3] - Amkor faces a significant workforce challenge, with an estimated shortage of 70,000 to 90,000 workers needed for all planned U.S. fabs, highlighting the ongoing talent crisis in the semiconductor sector [3]
美国迎来一座大型封装厂