Otellini unveils $7 billion Intel plan for 32nm

INTEL PRESIDENT AND CEO Paul Otellini has announced a two-year plan in which the firm will channel $7 billion into building more advanced manufacturing facilities in the US.

The cash will mainly go towards kick-starting Chipzilla's 32nm manufacturing technology and represents the firm's biggest investment ever in new manufacturing process tech.

Doing his bit fo' Amewica, Otellini pounded his chest patriotically, noting "We're investing in America to keep Intel and our nation at the forefront of innovation".

Talking about the new 32nm factories, Otellini said, "The chips they produce will become the basic building blocks of the digital world, generating economic returns far beyond our industry."

The first processors Intel will build on the 32nm technology are codenamed 'Westmere' and will initially be bunged into desktop and mobile mainstream systems. Westmere combines Intel's latest Nehalem micro-architecture with graphics capability integrated directly into the processor.

Intel's investment will go to existing manufacturing sites in Oregon, Arizona and New Mexico and will purportedly support about 7,000 high-wage, high-skill jobs.

Clockwise from top left: D1D Oregan now, D1C Oregon Q4 2009, Fab 11X New Mexico 2010, Fab 32 Arizona 2010

Intel, which has a 45,000 strong US workforce, gets over 75 per cent of its sales overseas but still manages to carry out about 75 per cent of its semiconductor manufacturing in the States. Three quarters of the firm's R&D spending and capital investments are likewise set aside for its US facilities. So when it comes to chips, Intel wants you to know it's making freedom, rather than French, fries.

Chipzilla reckons 32nm plans are coming along so well, it can even accelerate the Westmere production ramp beginning in 2009 and introduce even more 32nm products in 2010.

The company plans its first public demonstration of a Westmere processor in San Francisco today. So stay tuned. µ