We have been visiting the completion ceremony of Toshiba Yokkaichi Plant, the latest flash memory factory by Toshiba and SanDisk

The Toshiba Yokkaichi Plant · Toshiba Yokkaichi Plant · Toshiba Yokkaichi Plant · Toshiba's Yokkaichi Plant (2nd Phase), which Toshiba and the SanDisk have been promoting the introduction of equipment to manufacture and sell as a "pioneer of NAND type flash memory" It was completed and production began. In addition, construction of new and second manufacturing buildings, which are exclusive facilities for NAND type flash memory (3D memory) with three-dimensional structure, began, completed and foundation ceremony and factory tour were conducted, so go to the site I have done it.

Toshiba: Press release (2014 - 09 - 09): Completion of Toshiba Yokkaichi Plant 's Fifth Manufacturing Building (Phase 2) and construction of new and second manufacturing building
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2014_09/pr_j0901.htm

SanDisk Corporation - Completion of the 5th manufacturing facility (2nd term) at Toshiba Yokkaichi Plant and launch of new and second manufacturing building
http://newsroom.sandisk.co.jp/manual-releases/2014/9/2014-09-09

Arrived at Toshiba Yokkaichi Plant. It is the building of "Fifth Manufacturing Building" that is reflected in the photograph and the second half part where the other half is completed newly.


A very huge building when looking at nearby. The car parked sideways can be felt very small.


A lot of reporters also gathered, and the height of attention was felt.


Looking from the sky like this, the right part of the building that is slightly brighter is part of Phase 2.


On the news gathering day, the completion of the fifth manufacturing building (the second term) and the launch ceremony of the newly built second manufacturing building were carried out. The temporary venue of the hall is also a great tent.


In the tent, samples of products produced at the factory were displayed.


15 nm process which is the heart part of the chip · Silicon wafer with diameter of 300 mm ...


Used for shipping and storage in wafer production lineFOUP(Front Opening Unified Pod) facilities and others were on display.


Various products using such memory are also exhibited.


I also use it in GIGAZINE editorial departmentExtreme Pro Compact FlashSeries and ...


Extreme Pro SDHC / SDXC CardSuch.


Easy to useUSB flash memory


SSDThere were samples such as those exhibited.


The Yokkaichi Plant said that the factory is being made in consideration of the environment and surrounding areas, and various recognition commendation panels made of wood were also exhibited.


Shinto shrines are performed without delay ......


Next, tape cutting was done in front of the 5th building building.


Toshiba representative director and president · Mr. Hisao Tanaka, US Embassy of Japan in Japan · Jessica · Webster, SanDisk Corporation CEO · San Jay · Melotra and others like this.

Toshiba Yokkaichi Factory · Fifth Manufacturing Building Second Phase Exhibition Commemorative Cut Tape


And the state of the inside of the fifth manufacturing building where this was released. In the facility kept clean, mass production of products using the latest 15 nm process is under way, and the first product will be shipped at the end of September.


Silicon wafers contained in FOUP are to be produced one after another.


In the future, both companies are planning to strengthen the production of NAND type flash memory whose demand is increasing, mainly for smart phones, tablets, SSD for enterprise servers, and so on.

◆ September 9, 2014 13:45 Addendum
Also, we were able to see the state of the 2nd manufacturing building which was demolished for the construction of new · 2nd manufacturing building scheduled to be completed in 2016 on the day.


Leaving only the factory wall, the rest is clean and refreshing completely.


The second building seems to be a high-ceilinged 4-story facility, and it is overwhelming size feeling even if it is aligned with heavy equipment.


Of course, it is prohibited to enter the work site.


Massive heavy machinery used for demolition


At the end of the arm there is aHydraulic breakerAnd others are installed.


There are large and small heavy machineries with colors.


Gondola for high altitude work also secretly.


When looking at close, the building of deep power was dismantled until it became the ground and was supposed to be born into the factory where the latest equipment is introduced.


◆ September 9, 2014 19:45 Addendum
A press conference continued at the factory tour and celebration.

Toshiba Representative Executive Officer President Hisao Tanaka
Thank you for coming to Toshiba Yokkaichi Plant No. 5 Building Building Completion Ceremony and New and 2nd Manufacturing Building Ceremonial Ceremony. We consider that the most important center of storage business in the future is NAND memory produced at Yokkaichi Plant and we will do our utmost with cooperation with SanDisk Corporation. Although the Japanese semiconductor industry is also said to be a declining industry, the Yokkaichi Plant is proud of being one of the world's most advanced semiconductor factories. We will respond to robust demand, which is expected to expand in the NAND memory that has been adopted at the cutting edge of the times, such as mobile phones to smartphones, tablets, etc. In the new and second manufacturing buildings that will newly proceed with construction We would like to build a foothold for 3D memory planned to be produced.


Mr. Sanjay Melotra President and CEO SanDisk Corporation
I am pleased to be able to join this place today. Since its founding in 1988, SanDisk has been the market leader in flash memory storage as a pioneer. SanDisk began collaborating with Toshiba in 2000 and cooperated in 2002 to start production at the Yokkaichi Plant and after that we have evolved the evolution of semiconductors over 11 generations. Based on the 15 nm process technology in the second phase of the 5th manufacturing building which began production and the 3D memory technology to be started production in 2016, it demonstrates overwhelming innovation in the market, We hope to demonstrate leadership in the market that is expected to expand to.


Mr. Yasuo Shigeru, President of Semiconductor & Storage Company
The market trend has been upward since the year before last, and the exchange environment was also good, so we were able to achieve good results in FY 2013. The NAND market in FY2014 is expected to have some loose demand, but since the summer there is the emergence of new smartphone equipment, and the market is still expanding. We hope to expand the NAND memory market spread to sales, and in fiscal 2016 we would like to realize operating profit of 300 billion yen. For this sector, we have been investing 200 billion a year, and in 2 fiscal year we are constructing a new clean room in the new and second manufacturing building.

This year, the world's latest 15-nm process, and plans to follow 3D memory are progressing. In addition to traditional memory businesses, we also strengthened our business such as SSD with controller technology, developed a system using NAND suitable for processing stored data, We will aim to expand to new areas.


A question-and-answer session with the press continued.

· Nihon Keizai Shimbun Yamada
About competitiveness of 15 nm: Although other companies are revitalizing the 3D memory business, is there still a possibility that Toshiba's 15 nm process has a winner? Also, please tell me the implications of your company's 3D memory business to be launched.

· President Tanaka
We believe that there is still competitiveness in terms of cost and power supply for 15 nm memory. In addition, the second phase of the 5th building building has been completed, and we will continue to produce 15nm in the future. In Toshiba, 15 nm is a big pillar and we believe it will be ten times larger in 2017, so I think it is an important business among Toshiba.

We believe that the 3D memory business is one of the businesses that can support Toshiba Group in the future, and I think that it is a field to focus on. On the other hand,VolatilityAlthough it is a fact that there is a voice concerned about the height of the company, it is no longer the situation that is subject to market trends as much as before.


· Free reporter O'Hara
I will visit CEO to Merotra of SanDisk. How do you think about SanDisk's global strategy and the relationship with competing Samsung? Newly acquiredSSD manufacturer · Fusion-ioPlease include the matter of including.

· Merotra CEO
In the 5th building we will make 15nm using existing capabilities. Also, I believe it is the lowest cost and competitive. 15 nm NAND is a world advanced technology, and we will continue to evolve technology using this technology. We will demonstrate leadership in the market in the new clean room planned to be completed in 2nd term of the 5th building building and 2016.

We also believe that the acquisition of Fusion IO has been completed and SanDisk's position in the corporate sector will increase. In 2015, we would like to aim sales exceeding 1 billion dollars (about 1 trillion yen).

· NHK Noguchi
How is the impact of the depreciation of the yen? I marked the 106 yen level for the first time in 6 years, but what is the impact on management? Also, it is said that new employment is not born in Yokkaichi, but how do you deal with it?

· President Tanaka
Toshiba Group as a whole has a positive impact. There are plus or minus depending on the business, plus side for exports related to semiconductors and social infrastructure, minus for import business to Japan, but it is a positive result in total. However, in the medium term, if we overrepair the yen, materials and fuel will soar so we are worrying about the sharp depreciation of the yen, so we are not necessarily positive in the medium term.

In the clean room of the new factory, production is done by automatic control of the computer, and human operators are in a small situation. Human beings in the field use computer to make production plan and maintenance of equipment. The way we work at the factory is changing, and we are promoting the automation of the site. At the current Yokkaichi Plant, 50% is the manufacturing field, the rest are technology and development, and half of the manufacturing is a technical job. It is a different flow from the old factory, but I am thinking in that direction from now on.

· Reuters Murai
What is the meaning of the completion of the fifth manufacturing building and the rebuilding of the new and second manufacturing building in the battle against Samsung in the NAND business?

· President Tanaka
The fifth manufacturing building is the world's most advanced factory. Toshiba is the first company in the world to produce 15 nm, and I would like to understand that it is ahead of the world. Regarding relationships with other companies, we will seek out market trends, the overall environment and interact with the market to assess production volume rather than pursue numbers. We estimate that the bit growth rate in the whole world is estimated to be 30 to 40%, we will produce it accordingly, produce 15 nm, and plan to fight as the global Big 2 in this fiscal year by setting up 3D NAND memory I am thinking.


· Sankei Shimbun Koganezaki
I will ask about the competition with Samsung. Please let us know your enthusiasm for how long you want to be the top share.

· President Tanaka
Although certainly fighting, we do not necessarily stick to No.1 in the market, share top. As we blindly increase our market share, targeting expansion of volume leads to issues such as market confusion and selling price down, we recognize healthy growth, sure profit as our main focus.

· Nikkei BP Ota
NAND's partnership has been successful, but please tell us about the prospects for discrete business and system LSI business. Also, I think that the Oita factory is in a difficult situation including the occupancy rate, but is there any other cooperation or sale other than NAND?

· President Tanaka
We believe that the Oita factory has gained some competitiveness, but we think that the situation is still severe. In-vehicle LSI, electric power, white LED etc. Squeezed product development,Google's own smartphone "Project Ara"There are also fields that you can expect, such as bridge ICs to be mounted on. Regarding the survival of the Oita Factory, we believe that the structural reforms we have been pursuing have been succeeding, we have not thought of any sale of the project or plant closure. Rather, we would like to advance more competitive business development.