Intel celebrated the official opening of its cutting-edge factory, Fab 9, located in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The event marks a significant milestone in Intel’s previously announced $3.5 billion investment, aimed at enhancing its New Mexico operations for the manufacturing of advanced semiconductor packaging technologies. These technologies include Intel’s innovative 3D packaging technology, Foveros, designed to offer flexible options for combining multiple chips optimized for power, performance, and cost.
Keyvan Esfarjani, Intel executive vice president and chief global operations officer, commented on the occasion, stating, “Today, we celebrate the opening of Intel’s first high-volume semiconductor operations and the only U.S. factory producing the world’s most advanced packaging solutions at scale. This cutting-edge technology sets Intel apart and gives our customers real advantages in performance, form factor, and flexibility in design applications, all within a resilient supply chain.”
The Fab 9 facility in Rio Rancho, along with Fab 11x, represents Intel’s first operational site for mass production of its 3D advanced packaging technology. It is also Intel’s first co-located high-volume advanced packaging site, contributing to an end-to-end manufacturing process that promises a more efficient supply chain from demand to final product.
Fab 9 is expected to play a crucial role in advancing Intel’s innovation in advanced packaging technologies. As the semiconductor industry transitions into the era of using multiple “chiplets” in a package, technologies like Foveros and EMIB (embedded multi-die interconnect bridge) offer a faster and more cost-efficient path toward achieving 1 trillion transistors on a chip, extending Moore’s Law beyond 2030.
Foveros, Intel’s 3D advanced packaging technology, facilitates the building of processors with vertically stacked compute tiles, allowing Intel and foundry customers to mix and match compute tiles to optimize cost and power efficiency.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham expressed her support for Intel’s investment, stating, “This investment by Intel underscores New Mexico’s continued dedication to bringing manufacturing back home to America. Intel continues to play a key role in the state’s technology landscape and strengthen our workforce, supporting thousands of New Mexico families.”
The $3.5 billion investment in Rio Rancho has not only created hundreds of high-tech Intel jobs but has also generated more than 3,000 construction jobs and an additional 3,500 jobs across the state.
In terms of corporate responsibility, Intel is committed to minimizing its environmental footprint. Fab 9 is on track to recycle at least 90% of construction waste, with Intel purchasing renewable electricity to meet 100% of its New Mexico electricity use. The company has also funded nonprofit-led water restoration projects benefiting New Mexico watersheds.
Intel’s presence in Rio Rancho dates back to 1980, with a cumulative investment of more than $16 billion in capital. Beyond business operations, Intel actively engages with the community, with employees volunteering over 65,000 hours in New Mexico over the past five years. The company has also donated more than $6.5 million to support local nonprofits and schools since 2018.
