Lam Research to Support Tata’s Dholera Semiconductor Fab with New Local Office

• Chinmay
• November 28, 2024
• News, Semiconductor Industry
• Dholera semiconductor fab, India technology news, IoT industry updates, Lam Research, PSMC, Semiconductor Manufacturing, semiverse, Tata Electronics, virtual fab, wafer fabrication
• 0 Comments

India is set to achieve a major milestone in its semiconductor journey with Tata Electronics building the country’s first semiconductor fabrication facility in Dholera, Gujarat, in collaboration with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC). The project has garnered global attention, and Lam Research India, a leader in wafer fabrication equipment, is preparing to set up an office at the facility to provide localized support.

The semiconductor fab will boast a manufacturing capacity of up to 50,000 wafers per month. Lam Research’s state-of-the-art Semiverse, a virtual fab platform used worldwide for process simulations, is expected to play a key role in optimizing operations at the Dholera facility. This simulation capability will significantly reduce experimentation costs, which can otherwise reach millions of dollars.

Local Presence for Immediate Access

In an exclusive interview with The Economic Times, Rangesh Raghavan, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Lam Research India, highlighted the importance of proximity to customers. He stated, “If the Tatas complete the fab in Dholera, we’ll have an office there in Dholera and support them as well. We won’t support them from here in Bengaluru. Customers need immediate access.”

Lam Research has already established a strong working relationship with PSMC, which extensively uses Lam’s wafer fabrication equipment. Raghavan emphasized that a collaborative effort involving teams from Tata Electronics, PSMC, and Lam Research will ensure the fab operates efficiently and cost-effectively.

Cutting Costs with Semiverse

Lam Research’s Semiverse is expected to be a game-changer for the Dholera fab. The virtual fab platform allows for the simulation of wafer fabrication processes, reducing the need for costly physical experimentation. Raghavan illustrated its benefits, stating, “Each wafer run can cost $10,000. If one must do 600 experiments, it could cost $6 million. With Semiverse, I can simulate all those 600 conditions and identify the 20 conditions likely to provide a solution.”

This approach will streamline decision-making and enhance the economic viability of the fab, showcasing advanced technology’s impact on manufacturing efficiency.

India’s Role in Lam Research’s Global Ecosystem

Lam Research’s India operations, which have been active for 24 years, play a vital role in the company’s global ecosystem. With the largest team outside the U.S., the Indian engineering teams are integral to every product developed by the company.

Raghavan also reflected on the lessons learned from the supply chain disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected even Lam Research’s ability to source chips for its machines. “We’ve always believed in a globally diversified ecosystem. No country can do it all. We’ve never been dependent on any one country,” he said, reinforcing the importance of global collaboration in the semiconductor industry.

India’s Semiconductor Ambitions

The establishment of the Dholera fab represents a significant step toward India’s semiconductor self-reliance, aligning with the government’s initiatives to position the country as a global electronics manufacturing hub. With Tata Electronics, PSMC, and Lam Research India working together, this venture has the potential to place India on the global semiconductor map, fostering innovation and addressing the growing demand for chips.