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[News] SK Hynix Reportedly Plans to Invest USD 4 Billion in Advanced Packaging Fab in Indiana


2024-03-27 Semiconductors editor

SK Hynix is rumored planning to build an advanced packaging fab worth USD 4 billion in West Lafayette, Indiana. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, it is expected to commence operations by 2028, creating up to 1,000 job opportunities. This initiative may receive support in the form of state and federal tax incentives.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal and Tom’s Hardware, SK Hynix’s investment aims to enhance its capabilities in advanced semiconductor packaging, with a particular emphasis on manufacturing High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM).

Considering a potential capital expenditure of USD 4 billion for the construction, per Tom’s Hardware, if the project proceeds, it will become one of the largest advanced packaging facilities globally. Hence, government support is crucial, with expectations of tax incentives from both state and federal levels in the US.

SK Hynix, a supplier of HBM memory for NVIDIA, is eyeing enhanced capabilities in advanced chip packaging, particularly crucial for manufacturing HBM. The recent NVIDIA Blackwell B200, with each GPU utilizing 8 HBM3e chips, has also underscored SK Hynix’s role in the critical components supply chain for the AI industry.

The recent CHIPS and Science Act allocated USD 8.5 billion to Intel, enhancing US semiconductor competitiveness. SK Hynix’s plan to build a fab in Indiana is a significant stride, fostering US semiconductor growth.

However, US subsidies for chip manufacturing and packaging have been slow, with only three American companies currently benefiting, including BAE Systems, GlobalFoundries, and Microchip Technology.

Reportedly, SK Hynix’s plan remains more of an intention statement than a finalized deal, and whether it proceeds to the construction phase remains to be seen.

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(Photo credit: SK Hynix)

Please note that this article cites information from The Wall Street Journal and Tom’s Hardware.