If things go as planned, SK hynix will become the world’s first chipmaker to start mass production of the 72-layer NAND chips. (image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – SK hynix Inc., a South Korean chipmaker, plans to begin mass production of advanced flash memory chips for mobile devices, or 3D NAND chips, next year, an industry source said Monday.
The advanced NAND chips with 72 layers of data-storing memory cells will be produced at SK hynix’s chip plant in Icheon, 80 km southeast of Seoul, in the second half of next year, according to the source.
Designs for the new chips will be completed during the first half of next year, the source said.
If things go as planned, SK hynix will become the world’s first chipmaker to start mass production of the 72-layer NAND chips.
Samsung started mass production of 48-layer 3D NAND chips in 2013 and may begin mass production of 64-layer 3D NAND chips at the end of this year.
A chip can deliver greater data storage capacity if the data storage structures on the chip are stacked on top of each other like skyscrapers in a city.
The global market for NAND flash memory chips is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 44 percent from 2015 to 2020.
Last week, SK hynix announced that it will invest 3.15 trillion won (US$2.61 billion) in South Korea and China to expand its memory chip production, as demand for memory chips shows signs of a strong rebound.
(Yonhap)
