SK hynix Reportedly Accelerates Yongin Fab Rollout: Equipment Orders Underway, Trial Production Targeted for February Next Year

According to a report by ZDNET, SK hynix is pushing forward with its semiconductor cluster construction in Yongin on an accelerated timeline exceeding initial expectations. Recently, the company has placed orders with key partners for cutting-edge DRAM manufacturing equipment. The initial production scale under discussion is 20,000 wafers per month.

Production Timeline Moved up, Equipment Contracts Expedited

SK hynix has advanced the opening of the first clean room (ph1) at Y1, the first wafer fab in the Yongin Cluster, from its original May target to February next year. At that time, a trial production line will first be established, followed by equipment installation between March and April to ramp capacity up to 20,000 wafers per month. To expedite the introduction of equipment into Y1 ph1, SK hynix has moved up the signing of sales unit price contracts, generally conducted at the end of the year, to the early third quarter, ensuring that equipment can be delivered as early as possible.

Targeting 1c DRAM, Aiming for Next-Generation AI Memory

The production goal for Y1 ph1 is sixth-generation 10-nanometer-class (1c) DRAM. As the most advanced commercially available DRAM process node, 1c technology will primarily be used to manufacture high-value-added DDR and LPDDR (low-power DRAM) products for AI applications. SK hynix is also expected to adopt this process node on its seventh-generation High Bandwidth Memory (HBM4E), which is slated for commercial launch next year.

Trillion-Won Mega-Cluster Accelerates, Fourth Fab Completed 12 years ahead of Schedule

It is said that the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster represents a total investment of 600 trillion won and encompasses four wafer fabs. Although the fourth fab was originally scheduled for completion in 2045, the company has brought that target forward substantially to 2033. The subsequent clean rooms ph2 and ph3 at Y1 will also begin construction in the second half of this year, with an overall highly compressed schedule.