Toshiba Corporation and SanDisk Corporation today celebrated the opening of Fab 5, the third 300mm wafer NAND fabrication facility at Toshiba's Yokkaichi Operations in Mie Prefecture, Japan.

Consumer demand for smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices continues to fuel strong global demand for NAND flash memory. Toshiba began the construction of Fab 5 in July 2010, and the new facility, equipped with manufacturing equipment funded by Toshiba and SanDisk, started volume production in July 2011. Fab 5 currently uses 24 nanometer (nm) process technology and its first wafer outs will be in August. In time, the fab will transition to more advanced process generations, starting with recently announced 19nm technology, the world's smallest, most advanced process node.

Fab 5 incorporates advanced earthquake-absorbing structures and integrates multiple power compensation techniques for protection against unexpected disruptions. LED lighting and power-saving manufacturing equipment will support the fab in securing Toshiba's goal of 12 percent less CO2 emissions than Fab 4. A wafer transportation system links the facility with Fabs 3 and 4 to support efficient manufacturing.

Flash Forward, Ltd., a joint venture between Toshiba and SanDisk established in September 2010 (50.1 percent owned by Toshiba and 49.9 percent by SanDisk), funded the advanced manufacturing equipment within the fab.

Outline of Fab 5 at Yokkaichi Operations

Structure of building: 2-Story steel frame concrete, five floors

Building area: Approximately 38,000m2

Floor area: Approximately 187,000m2

Start of construction: July 2010

Building completion: March 2011

Start of volume production: July 2011

Outline of Toshiba's Yokkaichi Operations

Location: 800 Yamanoisshiki-cho, Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture

Established: January 1992

General Manager: Koji Sato

Employees: Approximately 4,400

(as of end of March 2011, regular employees only for Toshiba)

Total site area: Approximately 436,800m2

Total floor area: Approximately 647,000m2

Outline of Flash Forward, Ltd.

Location: 800 Yamanoisshiki-cho, Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture

Established: September 2010

President and CEO: Hideyuki Kobayashi

Holding: Toshiba: 50.1%, SanDisk: 49.9%

SanDisk's operations in Yokkaichi include more than 300 employees under the leadership of SanDisk Japan President and General Manager, Dr. Atsuyoshi Koike.