Toshiba, Sandisk press button on 12-inch fab

SANDISK AND Toshiba said they have broken ground on a 300mm fab in Yokkaichi, Japan.

The fabrication plant, Fab 4, will cost the two companies about ¥300 billion, under the joint venture name Flash Alliance. They will build NAND flash, as you've probably guessed by now.

Production will be shared between Tosh and Sandisk, with Fab 4 producing 2,500 wafers a month in the fourth quarter of 2007. By the fourth quarter of 2008, the firm expect to churn out 67,500 wafers a month using 56 nanometre process technology.

Earthquakes? Fab 4 will have an earthquake absorbing structure which may limit the force of a quake by two thirds.

The clean room will be 48,800m2 and will employ over 2,000 people when it's up and running. Toshiba will have a 50.1% stake in Flash Alliance, Sandisk 49.9%. µ