Intel revealed Oct. 19 that it is planning to invest between $6
billion and $8 billion over the next two years to build a new processor
fabrication plant in Oregon in addition to upgrading four existing
facilities to manufacture next-generation 22-nanometer chips.
These upcoming 22nm microprocessors are designed for use in
smartphones, digital cameras, desktop and laptop computers, and
numerous other devices. Their small size and increased performance
metrics allow designers and device manufacturers additional flexibility
to turn out sleeker designs, higher performance and longer battery life.
Intel said the five projects will require between 6,000 and 8,000
construction jobs and result in between 800 and 1,000 new permanent high-tech
jobs.
Even though Intel generates 75 percent of its revenues from
overseas-based manufacturers, it maintains about three-fourths of its
microprocessor manufacturing in the United States. Intel also said the
planned investments allow the company to maintain its existing
manufacturing employment base at the five sites.
"Today's announcement reflects the next tranche of the continued
advancement of Moore's law and a further commitment to invest in the
future of Intel and America," Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini
said in a statement to the press.
"The most immediate impact of our multibillion-dollar investment will
be the thousands of jobs associated with building a new fab and
upgrading four others, and the high-wage, high-tech manufacturing jobs
that follow."
The planned capital expenditures come in the wake of Intel's
announcement made in February 2009 to support state-of-the-art upgrades
to its manufacturing process in the United States. Those upgrades resulted in
32nm process technology which produced computer chips being used
today in PCs, servers, embedded and mobile devices around the world.
Intel said it will start production in late 2011 on its first 22nm microprocessors, which are codenamed Ivy Bridge.
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