TSMC's latest large fabs (GIGAFAB), can produce more than 100000 pieces per month 12-inch wafers, each cost up to nt $300 billion (61 billion yuan). On April 1, but this year, Japan launched the "mini fabs" Minimal (Fab), aimed at Internet age small, diverse sensor needs, starting at it as long as 500 million yen (RMB 030 million). The media referred to as: "upset the global semiconductor industry manufacturing system".

Dominated by the ministry of economy, the 140 Japanese companies, groups jointly develop a new generation of manufacturing system, the target is greatly reduced through cost and technical threshold, let the auto and home appliance manufacturers to being required to produce the semiconductors and sensors. 30 years ago were overturned TSMC chairman morris chang and wafer foundry patterns, early return to philips, Sony and other companies have their own production of semiconductor era of vertical integration.

Selling this kind of production system, is Japan's yokogawa motor corp. 's yokogawa solutions. Exterior streamline manufacturing machines, beautiful, each about the size and beverage vending machines, but each have a wash, heating, exposure, and other functions. Every machine, is the equivalent of a semiconductor production line. A "mini fabs" production line, the required minimum size is about the size of the two tennis courts. Is only one percent of a 12-inch wafer plant area.

"Mini fabs" can be so cheap, small volume, first of all is to challenge the industry knowledge innovation ─ ─ don't need to clean room.

Semiconductor chip if stained with dust even longer than 0.1 micron bad product, therefore, make indoor must stay high cleanliness. Maintain clean room needs a lot of power, so the investment amount is very high, not only to maintain cost is quite striking. So it's difficult to semiconductor production in large quantities, not profit.

Industrial technology research institute of the original Shi Lang challenged the common sense in the industry. "Semiconductor factory really need clean room? Clearly need isolation dust only wafer." Wedded to the question, the original Shi Lang starting in the 1990 s idea "mini fabs.

A few years later, the original Shi Lang finally developed the key technology of local clean, and the results produced special transport system "Minimal Shuttle". Using the electromagnet control switch, almost no dust.

"Mini fabs" another characteristic, is not to need to use mask, it can greatly reduce cost. The era of Minimal overall concept, that is need a variety of small amounts of production system. To handle the wafer is about 0.5 inches in diameter, is smaller than 1 yen COINS also. Because of the wafer is very small, so the production equipment become smaller as well.

Cut from the wafer, chip size of about 1 square centimeter. "Mini fabs" annual output is about 500000, the general 12-inch fabs is two hundred million. If only 10000, each chip to 10000 yen on the market, but as long as the "mini fabs" 1200 yen.

The "mini fabs" research and development plan, originated in 2010. During the 3 years starting in 2012, ministry of economy of the budget, plan through. Now contains a number of manufacturing companies, a total of 140 enterprise groups to participate in. Although by yokogawa solutions in sales, but participating in the development of Japan's small and medium-sized enterprises (smes) for the manufacturing around 30, which is one of the one big characteristic of the equipment.

The "mini fabs" in the front process required for semiconductor devices, is roughly the research and development, start formal sales. 2018 years ago, is expected to cut chip function and back end of the packaging process equipment will be developed.