GlobalFoundries opens its new Malaysia Office and expanded facility in Singapore
Date: 06/10/2023
GlobalFoundries opened its US$4 billion expanded fabrication plant in Singapore. The 23,000 sqm fab will create 1,000 high-value jobs in Singapore, 95 percent of which will include equipment technicians, process technicians and engineers.
The official opening ceremony was graced by Mr. Lawrence Wong, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, alongside Mr. Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi, Chairman of the GF Board of Directors, additional GF Board members and GF executives including President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Thomas Caulfield, Chief Manufacturing Officer Kay Chai (KC) Ang, and Senior Vice President and General Manager of GlobalFoundries Singapore Tan Yew Kong, among others.
The new facility will boost GF’s global manufacturing footprint and reinforce the company’s ability to deliver product security and flexibility to customers across its manufacturing sites in three continents. As Singapore’s most advanced semiconductor facility to date, the expansion fab will produce an additional 450,000 wafers (300mm) annually, raising GF Singapore’s overall capacity to approximately 1.5 million wafers (300mm) each year.
“We are thrilled to ramp our operations at the Singapore expansion site. This site is instrumental in ensuring that we have the capacity our customers need as they seek to strengthen their supply chains,” said Dr. Thomas Caulfield, president and CEO of GlobalFoundries.“This new facility is the result of our close partnership with our customers and the Singapore government, and testament to the hard work and effort put in by our employees.”
Singapore’s semiconductor output currently makes up 11 percent of the global semiconductor market. This is set to grow as the country advances towards its Manufacturing 2030 vision to become a global hub for advanced manufacturing. GF stands ready to support the growth in demand for essential semiconductor chips.
“GlobalFoundries’ fab expansion in Singapore will extend its leadership in semiconductor manufacturing, amid expectations of robust long-term growth for the sector. The new facility will invigorate Singapore’s sophisticated semiconductor ecosystem that serves different parts of the value chain, through the creation of 1,000 good jobs and partnerships with local small-and-medium enterprises. EDB looks forward to working towards the next milestone with GlobalFoundries,” said Ms. Jacqueline Poh, Managing Director of EDB.
The new facility spans a cleanroom space of over 23,000 sqm. The first tool was moved into the facility in June 2022, just within a year of the groundbreaking ceremony. The building’s design is engineered to prioritise sustainability, earning both the Administration and Manufacturing buildings Green Mark Gold status from Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority. It is outfitted with the latest technologies and solutions to manage resources and waste, recycle and reuse water and increase overall energy efficiency.
GlobalFoundries also announced the official opening of it’s a new hub facility in Penang, Malaysia. This new facility will create 300 high-value manufacturing support roles, including technicians, engineers, administrative and support functions.
The GF Malaysia office is part of a strategic hub network that leverages the Company’s global footprint and complements GF’s global fab operations by providing engineering resources to supplement operations on a real-time basis. This site will utilize the latest digital manufacturing technologies such as remote access, Industry 4.0 solutions and GF’s state-of-the-art Factory Control Tower.
The event was graced by Yang Amat Berhormat Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang, Dato’ Loo Lee Lian, CEO of InvestPenang, guests from Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and Kay Chai (KC) Ang, Chief Manufacturing Officer of GlobalFoundries, amongst others.
The new Penang operation will ensure that all of GF’s global manufacturing sites in Singapore, the U.S., and Europe have fundamental round-the-clock support enabling the company to maintain supply chain resiliency and sustainability for global operations, as GF continues to deliver on our commitments to meet the market demand for GF chips.
“Our newly opened Malaysia operations will leverage the strengths of our existing global manufacturing footprint and harmonize operations across all sites, offering customers truly world-class global operations,” said Mr. Kay Chai (KC) Ang, Chief Manufacturing Officer, GlobalFoundries. “Penang is a vibrant location at the forefront of semiconductor manufacturing innovation. The forward-thinking policies of the government have built a strong ecosystem and attracted a large base of highly skilled talent in our industry that will enable us to diversify our talent pool,” he added.
YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang, stated, “At a time where business and supply chain resiliency are key priorities, GlobalFoundries’ global manufacturing footprint sets the company ahead of the pack. Particularly, the Company’s emphasis on digital manufacturing also aligns with Penang’s goals and roadmap as we continue to anchor our position as the Silicon Valley of the East.”
Ts. Mahadhir Aziz, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) said, “MDEC is elated to welcome GlobalFoundries onto our shores. The establishment of its new hub facility signifies confidence in Malaysia’s robust and enabling ecosystem, our pool of digitally skilled talent and world-class infrastructure that affirms Malaysia’s position as the digital hub of ASEAN. Through the Malaysia Digital (MD) national strategic initiative and PEMANGKIN programs, we look forward to supporting GlobalFoundries’ expansion in Malaysia, transforming our digital capabilities, creating job opportunities, and further enhancing growth in the digital economy.”
Malaysia hopes to achieve a 15% market share in the semiconductor and electronics industry by 2030, up from 13%. The State, via InvestPenang, strives to provide continuous assistance and facilitation for all investors in Penang, while spearheading the development of a sustainable industrial ecosystem, and GF stands ready to support this effort with the opening of its new office.
The GF Malaysia office is located at Bayan Lepas, Penang, and will be a complement to the recently opened GF Singapore fabrication plant. The close proximity between both countries provides opportunities for cross-border initiatives and broadening the talent pool.
Source: GlobalFoundries
