Active U.S. Semiconductor and Computer Projects Unfazed by COVID-19

Click on the image at right for a graph showing U.S. active semiconductor and computer project activity, by project type.

While some Industrial Manufacturing sectors have suffered COVID-19-related disruptions, the semiconductor and computer sector has remained relatively unscathed. Semiconductors -- materials used in almost all electronic devices, including health care and medical devices, telecommunications, and manufacturing -- support technologies for key infrastructure by providing power to water and energy systems, and as well as information technology (IT) components that support supply chains and essential services like medicine, education and government, among others.

Of the $14 billion in active U.S semiconductor and computer projects in Industrial Info's database, more than $12 billion is invested in plant expansions. The highest-valued project is Texas Instruments Incorporated's (NASDAQ:TXN) (Dallas, Texas) $3.2 billion planned semiconductor facility in Richardson, outside of Dallas. The expansion calls for an 864,000-square square-foot chip manufacturing plant, a 317,000-square square-foot cleanroom and a parking garage. Construction kicks off in August 2021, with completion in January 2024. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTL) (Santa Clara, California) is responsible for two $1.5 billion expansion projects: one at its Wafer Fab 42 manufacturing plant in Chandler, Arizona and another at its D1X module manufacturing plant in Hillsboro, Oregon. The former is scheduled for completion in December 2021, while the latter will increase the plant's manufacturing capacity by about 50%. Completion is scheduled for December of this year. For more information, see the Chandler and Hillsboro project reports.

The highest-dollar valued non-expansion project belongs to Cree Incorporated: and a $450 million revamp of its silicon carbide wafer fabrication plant in Durham, North Carolina, to meet increasing demand in the automotive industry. Kickoff is scheduled for December 2022, and completion is expected in February 2023. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Meanwhile, Foxconn Technology Group (Taipei, Taiwan) is awaiting completion in December of a grassroot electronic components smart manufacturing center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. The facility, which will produce electronic components for server racks, kicked off in March. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

But not all of the active U.S. semiconductor and computer projects are unaffected by COVID-19. Cree Incorporated has delayed its $1 billion grassroot silicon carbide wafer fabrication facility in New York. The state-of-the-art facility will increase the company's production of silicon carbide wafers by 25%. Foxconn Technology Group (Taipei, Taiwan) has slowed Phase 1 I construction of Area 1 at its LCD screen manufacturing complex in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. Lastly, Moxie Solar anticipates delaying a $10 million plant renovation of its photovoltaic panel manufacturing plant in North Liberty, Iowa. For more information, see the New York, Mount Pleasant and North Liberty projects.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.