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![]() Construction of Fab 34 in December 2021 | |
Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | |
Founded | 29 September 1989 |
Founders | |
Headquarters | Collinstown Industrial Park, , Ireland |
Area served | Europe |
Key people | Eamonn Sinnott (GM) |
Products | |
Number of employees | 4,900[1] (2024) |
Parent | Intel |
Website | intel |
Intel Ireland is the Irish subsidiary of the U.S.-based semiconductor giant, Intel.[2] Founded in 1989, the company is one of the largest employers in Ireland.[3][4][5]
History
[edit]Origins
[edit]In the late 1980s, Intel was in talks with IDA Ireland about potentially setting up its European manufacturing operations in Ireland, with other possibilities being Scotland and the Netherlands.[6][7][8][9] By September 1989, Intel had reached an agreement with IDA worth £87 million in grants to set up in Ireland. The subsidiary was registered on 29 September 1989 as Intel Ireland Limited.[10]
Leixlip campus
[edit]Intel founder Gordon Moore came to Dublin to announce the 2,200 job project setting up in Ireland on 3 October 1989.[11] SIPTU were also in talks with the company regarding finalising an exclusive union membership deal.[12] On 5 October 1989, Intel submitted an application to Kildare County Council for full planning permission for the development of an “Electrical Systems Manufacturing and Assembly Industry” at the Collinstown Industrial Park in Leixlip, County Kildare.[13]
Intel began hiring employees in early November and officially began operations on 24 November 1989 at their temporary premises in Palmerstown.[14][15][16]
In January 1990, Intel were certain that they were going to go ahead with its $250 million plan of creating a manufacturing plant, including a fabrication plant, at the planned industrial park site in Leixlip.[17] The foundation stone ceremony was held on 25 January 1990 at the nearby Castletown House.[18]
By June 1990, they were going forward with the second phase of the construction following the acceptance of its newest computer products in the European market.[19][20] Construction on the Fab 10 fabrication plant later began in 1991.[21]
Jacobs International Limited, the Irish subsidiary of U.S.-based Jacobs Solutions, were awarded a £100 million contract with Intel to provide architectural, engineering, procurement and construction services at the Leixlip site in April 1991.[22][23]
On 11 March 1992, Intel signed a deal with Amstrad in Hanover to manufacture a range of Amstrad's machines due to financial difficulties Amstrad experienced due to the recession. It was felt that this deal would be another boost for Intel's facility in Leixlip.[24]
The manufacturing plant manufactured its first chip in 1993. By October 1993, the company had a total of 1,000 employees and 2,000 by November 1994.[25][26]
Intel Shannon
[edit]In 2000, Intel opened Intel Shannon, a research facility in Shannon, County Clare, which employs approximately 250 people.[27]
Fabrication plants
[edit]The campus at Leixlip is Intel's largest manufacturing plant outside of the United States and initially consisted of two semi-conductor wafer fabrication facilities: Fab 10 Ireland Fab Operations (IFO) and also the Fab 24 manufacturing plant which includes Fab 24-2. IFO was a 200mm wafer facility whilst Fab 24 processes 300mm wafers using 65-nanometer and 90-nanometer process technologies. IFO ceased operations and Fab 10 is now classed as Fab 24, along with Fab 14.
Fab 10 (IFO)
[edit]Fab 10 began construction in 1991, and was opened in February 1994 following a total investment of £500 million since commencing operations in 1989.[28][29] By August 2010, Intel Fab Operations (IFO) had become the first Intel plant to ship 2 billion die. It is also notable as the only Intel facility to achieve the ISO 14001 safety standard for its management of the local environment.
Fab 14
[edit]Construction for Fab 14 began in October 1995 with the construction contract being won by Joseph Murphy Structural Engineers Ltd (JMSE).[30][31] In June 1997, Intel sought planning permission for “a two-storey over basement wafer fabrication production extension with roof mounted equipment to existing Fab 14 complex”.[32] In April 1998, Intel received the Forbairt Construction Linkage Award for its extensive use of Irish suppliers as 65% of all goods and services used to design, build and furnish Fab 14 were Irish.[33][34] Fab 14 officially opened on 11 May 1998.[35]
Fab 24 and 24-2
[edit]Fab 24 was officially opened in June 2004 by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, and the new facility represented an investment of $2 billion.[36] In April 2005, Intel announced that the one-billionth microchip had been manufactured by the Leixlip-based operation after 12 years in business.[37] Fab 24-2 was opened in June 2006 and was Intel's first plant in Europe to use the then advanced 65nm process technology.[38][39]
Fab 34
[edit]In 2019, work began on Fab 34 which was key to doubling the company's manufacturing space in Ireland and making the way for the production of Intel's 4 process technology.[40][41][42] Fab 34 officially opened on 29 September 2023 at a total cost of €17 billion.[43][44][45][46][47] In June 2024, Intel announced the €10.1 billion sale of a 49% stake in a joint venture related to Fab 34 with Apollo Global Management.[48][49]
References
[edit]- ^ O'Donovan, Brian (2024-08-02). "Fears for Irish jobs as Intel to cut 15% of global workforce". RTE.ie. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- ^ "Intel in Ireland". intel.com.
- ^ "Ireland to escape most of Intel's cuts". RTE.ie. 2007-01-26. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ^ "Intel and Trinity College Dublin sign first ever Partnership to Boost Innovation". Trinity College Dublin. 2015-09-16. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ^ King, Ian (2022-09-21). "Intel tries to turn around the business of providing chips to data centres". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ^ Culliton, Gary (28 July 1989). "EC clamp on cheap microchips - IDA confirm Intel talks". Irish Press. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Intel may go to Scotland". Irish Press. 29 July 1989. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Culliton, Gary (6 September 1989). "Decision soon on Intel". Irish Press. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Hastings, Tim (4 October 1989). "Giant Intel project to employ 200 by next year". Irish Independent. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Intel Ireland Ltd | Irish Legal & Business Services Company & Director Check". www.solocheck.ie. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ "Intel move on Tuesday". Irish Press. 30 September 1989. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Flynn, Gerald (14 October 1989). "SIPTU seeks deal with Intel". Irish Press. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Planning applications". Irish Independent. 5 October 1989. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Culliton, Gary (4 October 1989). "Intel investment may cost a total of £550m". Irish Press. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Intel - Building the Irish Team". Sunday Independent. 5 November 1989. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Intel Ireland Annual Environmental Report 2009" (PDF). Intel Ireland. 2009. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ Culliton, Gary (26 January 1990). "Intel move to create 2,000 more jobs". Irish Press. p. 18. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Aughney, Jim (26 January 1990). "Laying of the foundation stone". Irish Independent. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Intel sales speed up Leixlip 'fab' plant". Irish Independent. 8 June 1990. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "INTEL begins second phase". Nationalist and Leinster Times. pp. 15 June 1990. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "An Introduction from Eamonn Sinnott". intel.com. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ "£100m Intel contract". Belfast Newsletter. 18 April 1991. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Jacobs International Ltd - Irish Company Info - SoloCheck". www.solocheck.ie. Retrieved 2023-12-15.[failed verification]
- ^ Lattimore, John (11 March 1992). "Amstrad deal boost for Intel". Irish Press. p. 17. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Aughney, Jim (13 October 1993). "Hefty bonus on cards for Irish staff as Intel booms". Irish Independent. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-12-15 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Aughney, Jim (24 November 1994). "Intel recruit 300 extra staff in operation expansion". Irish Independent. p. 27. Retrieved 2024-04-26 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Intel Shannon". intel.com. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Martin (20 February 1994). "Chips are down for a good bet". Sunday Independent. p. 20. Retrieved 2024-04-26 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "List of semiconductor fabrication plants", Wikipedia, 15 December 2023, retrieved 2023-12-16
- ^ Aughney, Jim (21 October 1995). "Intel sees further growth at Irish plants". Irish Independent. p. 12. Retrieved 2024-04-26 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ O'Donoghue, Cliodhna (21 February 1996). "Murphys win the Masonite contract". Irish Independent. p. 24. Retrieved 2024-04-26 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Aughney, Jim (3 June 1997). "Intel seeks go-ahead for major extension to £1.5bn Leixlip unit". Irish Independent. p. 15. Retrieved 2024-04-26 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Collins, Geraldine (10 April 1998). "Intel scoops top services award". Irish Independent. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-04-26 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Keane, Colette (11 April 1998). "Intel receives Forbairt award for its extensive use of local suppliers". Irish Examiner. p. 25. Archived from the original on 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2024-04-26 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Aughney, Jim (16 April 1998). "Intel set to bounce back now the chips are down". Irish Independent. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-04-26 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Intel opens new Leixlip facility". Irish Independent. 1 July 2004. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-12-16 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Skelly, Brian (14 April 2005). "Intel's Irish operations remain on track". Irish Independent. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-12-16 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Intel opens $2bn Fab 24 -2 plant". Independent.ie. 2006-06-22. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ O'Mahony, Brian (2006-06-23). "Intel commitment proves Ireland still a good place to do business, says Ahern". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ "Ireland Milestone: First Tool Roll-in at Fab 34". intel.com (Press release). Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ "Fab 34 reaches important Intel 4 milestone". intel.com (Press release). Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ "What is Intel 4? Meteor Lake's technology explained". Trusted Reviews. 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ "Intel opens €17bn manufacturing expansion in Kildare". Independent.ie. 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ "New advanced chip facility in Leixlip will put Ireland at centre of AI revolution, says Intel chief". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ "Intel completes final stage of testing at its new €17bn Fab 34 plant in Leixlip". The Irish Times. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ "Inside Intel's new €17bn Leixlip plant – Tethered robot droids like something from Star Wars working in one of the cleanest places on the planet". www.independent.ie. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ "Fab 34 Celebrates first Meteor Lake Shipment". Intel. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
- ^ "Intel and Apollo Agree to Joint Venture Related to Intel's Fab 34 in..." Intel. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
- ^ "Intel and Apollo Agree to Joint Venture Related to Intel's Fab 34 in Ireland". www.apollo.com. Retrieved 2024-06-05.