Samsung Electronics Co., the world's second-largest semiconductor maker, said
Thursday it will invest US$3.9 billion in its Austin, Texas plant to meet
growing demand for 12-inch semiconductors used in mobile devices.
"Our
local unit, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, has completed a consultation on
expanding its production line with the state authorities," said Samsung
Electronics in a regulatory filing.
It said the expansion is aimed at
dealing with robust demand for smartphones and tablet PCs which need the
high-tech systems on chips to operate.
System semiconductors, or
systems-on-chips, refers to integrating all components of a computer or other
electronic system onto a single integrated circuit. They are frequently used in
mobile devices.
The $3.9 billion investment will transform one of its
two memory chip lines at its Austin plant into a line for producing system
semiconductors, said the company.
Samsung Electronics already injected
$4 billion into the Austin plant in August as the first step to upgrade the
production line.