The Terafab project, led by Elon Musk, is actively seeking semiconductor equipment and material suppliers across South Korea. Tesla and SpaceX are reportedly avoiding Chinese suppliers, aiming to secure pricing terms that are even more competitive than those found in the Chinese market.
Representatives from the project engaged with numerous local firms at the SEMICON West exhibition in San Francisco. Companies such as ENF Technology, Dongjin Semichem, Hanmi Semiconductor, Unisem, and MiCo were among those visited. Several of these entities have already entered into non-disclosure agreements.
Specific collaborations are already underway. Hanmi Semiconductor is discussing the supply of thermal compression bonding units, while HPSP has agreed to provide high-pressure hydrogen annealing equipment. Additionally, Komico, a subsidiary of MiCo, has signed a tripartite confidentiality agreement, and ISC is currently exchanging samples of rubber test sockets.
Major industry players are also involved, with Lam Research and Applied Materials establishing dedicated teams to support Terafab. Fujifilm is engaged in ongoing discussions regarding the supply of slurries, photoresists, and etchants for the production lines.
Musk envisions the facility reaching a production capacity of up to one million silicon wafers per month within a decade. The project is backed by initial investments estimated at $16.8 billion and is expected to generate more than 3,000 jobs.
