Renesas to Invest, Restart Operation of Kofu Factory; Boosting Power Semiconductor Production Capacity
May 17, 2022 | RenesasEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Renesas Electronics Corporation, a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, announced that it will conduct a 90-billion-yen worth investment in its Kofu Factory, located in Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. While the Factory was closed in October 2014, Renesas intends to reopen the fab in 2024 as a 300-mm wafer fab capable of manufacturing power semiconductors.
As the momentum for carbon neutrality grows, demand for highly efficient power semiconductors, which supply and manage electricity, is expected to dramatically increase globally over the years. Renesas especially anticipates rapid growth in demand for electric vehicles (EVs), and therefore plans to enhance its production capacity for power semiconductors such as IGBTs, in order to contribute toward decarbonization. Once the Kofu Factory reaches its mass production, the total production capacity of Renesas’ power semiconductors will double.
The Kofu Factory of Renesas Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Renesas, previously operated both 150mm and 200mm wafer fabrication lines. To boost its production capacity, Renesas decided to utilize a remaining building of the factory and revive it as a 300mm wafer fab dedicated to power semiconductors.
“Sustainability is at our heart and with ‘To Make Our Lives Easier’ as our Purpose, we want to build a sustainable future where our semiconductor technology and solutions help make our lives easier,” said Hidetoshi Shibata, President and CEO of Renesas. “This investment enables us to have our largest wafer fabrication line dedicated to power semiconductors, which are key to realizing decarbonization. We will continue to conduct necessary investments to enhance our in-house production capability while further strengthening ties with outsource partners. To address the mid to longer term demand growth, Renesas remains committed to ensuring security of supply in order to provide our customers with the best possible support.”
With the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Strategy for Semiconductors in consideration, Renesas plans to conduct its investment within the year of 2022, while closely coordinating with the Ministry.
While this investment will not have a material impact on Renesas’ performance for the year of 2022, an announcement will be promptly issued if, following this investment, any material impact is made.
Suggested Items
Meyer Burger Shuts Down Solar Module Production, Lays Off 282 Employees in the U.S.
05/30/2025 | Meyer BurgerMeyer Burger Technology AG is forced to stop its solar module production in the U.S., which is still ramping up, due to a lack of funds. On May 29, 2025, all 282 remaining employees at the Goodyear, Arizona, site received their notices of termination. Production with an annual capacity of 1.4 gigawatts was shut down immediately.
GTSMT SMT Production Lines are Transforming Modern Electronics Manufacturing
05/29/2025 | EINPresswire.comGTSMT, a prominent leader in the Surface-Mount Technology (SMT) sector, announced the introduction of cutting-edge innovations designed to tackle the evolving challenges facing the global electronics manufacturing industry.
Driving Innovation: Traceability in PCB Production
05/29/2025 | Kurt Palmer -- Column: Driving InnovationTraceability across the entire printed circuit board production process is an increasingly important topic among established manufacturers and companies considering new PCB facilities. The reasons are apparent: Automatic loading of part programs, connection with MES systems and collection of production data, and compliance with Industry 4.0 requirements
Altus Supports Phoenix Systems in Advancing THT Assembly with Robotic Soldering
05/27/2025 | Altus GroupAltus Group, a leading distributor of capital equipment in the UK and Ireland, has successfully supported Phoenix Systems UK Ltd in its investment in robotic soldering technology to further enhance its through-hole technology (THT) assembly processes.
FastlinkPCB Accelerates Global Expansion, Builds Efficient PCB Industry Chain
05/26/2025 | FastlinkPCBFastlinkPCB, a PCB manufacturing and assembly solutions provider, announced that it has completed the layout of subsidiaries in the US, Germany, Switzerland, and Malaysia over the past year, forming a localized service network covering North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.