Fall Production to Begin at 6th Western Digital-Kioxia Flash Memory Plant

Western Digital and Kioxia finalized an agreement to jointly invest in the “first phase” of a new flash-memory manufacturing facility in Yokkaichi, Japan, said the companies Thursday. Financial terms weren't disclosed. With construction of the first phase complete, the investment will enable production to begin there this fall, they said. The investment adds a sixth flash-memory to the Yokkaichi campus, “enhancing its position as the world's largest flash memory manufacturing site,” they said. The first phase will produce 3D flash memory in 112- and 162-layer nodes, they said. Western Digital’s “flash availability” will be reduced by about 7 exabytes (7 billion gigabytes) in the second half of its fiscal 2022 ending in early July from the contamination of materials used in manufacturing processes in its joint venture with Kioxia, said the companies last month (see 2203030006).