In a transfer anticipated to spice up India’s semiconductor prowess, Tata Electronics Ltd has began exporting restricted portions of semiconductor chips packaged at a pilot line at its Bengaluru-based analysis and improvement centre, folks accustomed to the matter instructed ET.
These packaged chips are being shipped to a few of Tata Electronics’ companions in Japan, the US and Europe, the folks mentioned. This comes because the Tata group firm lays the groundwork for its new chip packaging unit at Morigaon in Assam and a USD 10 billion chip foundry at Dholera in Gujarat.
“Tata Electronics has packaged chips there which they’re sending to clients proper now exterior the nation. They’ve a number of companions and are increasing their buyer base. A few of these (merchandise) are nonetheless within the pilot stage,” one of many individuals cited above instructed ET.
A second individual mentioned the corporate can also be in close to remaining levels for a profitable tape-out of semiconductor chips in 28, 40, 55, 65 nm (nanometre), and another greater nodes. A tape-out refers back to the remaining results of the designing course of for built-in circuits or printed circuit boards earlier than they’re despatched for manufacturing.
“There are a number of rounds earlier than a profitable tape-out. So, a few of these merchandise will likely be in superior levels of R&D and they are going to be despatched to pick out clients to acquire suggestions for testing and enchancment. Industrial manufacturing is slated for 2027,” the individual mentioned.
He mentioned chips which have been packaged and are at the moment being exported by Tata Electronics may very well be utilized in a number of merchandise as they haven’t been constructed for a particular goal.
“Whenever you package deal the chips, it actually doesn’t matter what the chips are used for. It’s only a matter of whenever you package deal them and put together them for use. Tata Electronics has merchandise in a number of areas,” he added.
ET reported in April that Tata Electronics is known to have signed a strategic take care of Tesla to produce semiconductor chips for its international operations.
Tata Electronics didn’t reply to ET’s queries.
Neil Shah, vice chairman at market researcher Counterpoint Analysis, mentioned it’s crucial for Tata Group to begin demonstrating its chip designing and manufacturing capabilities to potential clients and companions earlier than the fabs are commissioned over the subsequent 30-36 months.
“It’s a nice alternative for Tata to begin leveraging its end-to-end experience and imaginative and prescient from early semiconductor design improvement work the corporate has been doing,” Shah mentioned.
He added that this may very well be by means of Tata Elxsi which has partnerships with Renesas, Lattice Semi in addition to by means of its in-house Sankhya Labs department.
“Tata Electronics ought to arrange strong front-end processes for co-design, testing and high quality assurance processes for remaining manufacturing chip tape-outs when the fab is up,” he mentioned. “They need to additionally formulate diligent back-end ATMP processes, companies and pilots to realize international manufacturing requirements, profitable yield charges and change into a one-stop store for each semiconductor design and manufacturing in India.”
Tata group’s chip foundry in Dholera, inbuilt alliance with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (PSMC), has a deliberate capability of as much as 50,000 wafer begins monthly. The power is anticipated to provide chips in main nodes corresponding to 28 nm (nanometre) and 40 nm in addition to some legacy or mature nodes corresponding to 55 nm, 90 nm, and 110 nm.
ET had in March reported that the Tata-PSMC JV plans to fabricate chips majorly in these nodes earlier than shifting to the 22 nm phase.
Some small and medium-scale packaging corporations are already engaged on the identical in India corresponding to Tessolve Semiconductor, CDIL and SCL. Consultants, nonetheless, mentioned this might not be on the scale of a Micron or Tata Group enterprise.
Aside from the foundry, Tata Group can also be engaged on an outsourced meeting and testing (OSAT) unit in Assam. Semiconductor meeting and testing is a essential a part of the semiconductor worth chain the place wafers made by semiconductor fabs are assembled or packaged after which examined earlier than they’re lastly used within the desired product.
Aside from Tatas, CG Energy can also be engaged on a chip meeting and testing unit at Sanand in Gujarat. Some others corresponding to an OSAT plant introduced by HCL Group-Foxconn group three way partnership in addition to one other by Hiranandani Group’s Tarq Semiconductors which has tied up with Kaynes Know-how are awaiting authorities approval.
