Texas Instruments Opens World’s Most Advanced Analog Manufacturing Facility in Richardson

Texas Instruments, a global semiconductor company based in North Texas, recently announced the opening of its manufacturing facility in Richardson. The 1.1-million-square-foot facility, known as RFAB – “R” for Richardson and “FAB” for fabrication – will be the world’s only production facility to use 300-millimeter (12-inch) silicon wafers to manufacture analog chips, which are essential components in virtually all electronics. The facility gives TI a strategic advantage in high-volume production because thousands of analog chips can be etched onto each wafer, more than doubling the number on the more commonly used and smaller 200-millimeter wafers.

“The opening of the RFAB plant provides TI with an opportunity to lead the way in meeting demand for the growing analog chips sector,” said Gary Metzler, Director of Global Real Estate for TI and NTC Board Member. “The kind of chips made here will help TI’s customers make thousands of different kinds of products more energy-efficient. RFAB is coming along at a time when people want to save energy and protect the environment. It’s especially exciting that these devices will be made here in North Texas in a factory that’s designed to be one of the industry’s most environmentally responsible.”

In addition to creating one of the most state-of-the-art fabs, the opening of the RFAB facility is expected to create up to 1,000 jobs, with immediate hiring for 250 jobs.

“This exciting announcement by TI represents a significant shift in business confidence, while reaffirming the North Texas region’s continued global leadership in high-tech innovation,” said Bill Sproull, president and CEO of the Metroplex Technology Business Council and NTC Board Member. “This facility is also the culmination of an extraordinary collaboration between TI and its community and state partners. Such symbiotic partnerships are exactly what make North Texas stand out as an economic development powerhouse.”

Local education has benefitted from TI’s decision to build the RFAB in Richardson. As part of the original agreement between the community and state partners, the nearby University of Texas at Dallas will receive a total of $300 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund, the Texas General Land Office, the UT System and private donors for improvement of its engineering and research programs.

“Texas Instruments has been a remarkable partner with education at all levels,” said Dr. David E. Daniel, president of UT Dallas. “The impact of the RFAB’s creation on UT Dallas has been dramatic in terms of recognition and research activity. This project’s high profile played a direct role in our most recent efforts to reach for what many call Tier One status – our aspiration to become a nationally recognized research university. We look forward to partnering with Texas Instruments and the rest of our community as we grow toward this stature in service to the Dallas area and the region.”

The facility will produce analog integrated circuits based on TI’s proprietary process. Customers will use these chips in electronics ranging from smartphones and netbooks, to telecom and computing systems. The chips from the new RFAB facility are scheduled to begin shipping by end of 2010.

RFAB has been an important model of green construction. It was the first semiconductor facility to achieve Gold certification with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. TI has applied knowledge from the RFAB designs to other facilities all over the world.