Expansions: TSMC invests US$100 bn in US semiconductor footprint; BASF enhances capacity of microcellular PU in India for auto sector

Taiwanese multinational semiconductor contract manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) Limited is increasing its investment in advanced semiconductor manufacturing in the US by an additional US$100 billion, bringing its total commitment to US$165 billion.

The expansion in Phoenix, Arizona, includes three new fabrication plants, two packaging facilities and an R&D centre, aiming to bolster the domestic supply of AI-driven chip technology.

The company says it expects this investment to create tens of thousands of high-tech jobs and support 40,000 construction jobs over the next four years. It is also projected to generate over US$200 billion in indirect economic output across the US in the next decade.

TSMC’s Arizona facility, operational since late 2024, is part of the company’s broader efforts to bolster the US semiconductor industry. The investment supports AI and other advanced technologies for major customers, including Apple, NVIDIA, and AMD.

In other news, BASF India Limited has broken ground on a new plant to increase the production capacity of its Cellasto microcellular polyurethane (MCU) in Dahej, India. The plant, expected to be operational in the second half of 2026, features a new mould line in its first stage. The company did not provide the capacity increase figures.

BASFestablished its first plant in Dahej in 2014, providing solutions that deliver noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) reduction to the automotive industry.

"The new facility is part of our efforts to innovate the production process. The plant will flexibly expand production further if demand increases. We emphasise our long-term commitment to better serve our Indian customers," said Bjoern Kophstahl, Vice President, Global Business Management for Cellasto.

Branded as Cellasto, BASF develops, manufactures, and sells a diverse range of components made from specialised MCU elastomers for the automotive industry and its suppliers.

Since 1961, it adds that Cellasto has established itself as a leading global partner to the automotive sector, co-developing various applications such as jounce bumpers, top mounts, coil spring isolators, and more. Additionally, Cellasto also offers material solutions for industrial and consumer applications.

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