Chartered expects to ramp 45nm for AMD by mid-2009
The Singapore based foundry has also been disappointed by the soft ramp at Fab 7 at the 65nm node but has continued with its capital spending plans in 2007 in anticipation of higher ware runs and improved utilisation in the second half of 2008.
Chia Song Hwee, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chartered Semiconductor said in reference to the 45nm ramp, "I have also talked in the past that from the industry adoption and ramp standpoint, we should all see any meaningful volume until probably in early part of mid 2009, which roughly kind of worked out to be about two years after the start of production for 65, which is kind of pretty typical and specifically on the SOI, we do not see any change in terms of the timing as well. It's going to be around that kind of timeframe in late first half of 2009 production."
Chartered's 300mm fab has a current capacity base of approximately 23,000wspm though is only producing approximately 19,000wspm. Its 200mm capacity is almost fully utilised, according to Hwee.