20/10/2025
I was amazed to learn that in 1988, Australia opened a new cutting edge FAB (Semiconductor fabrication plant), at 1.2 micron technology!! One of smallest in the world???? Utterly amazing and world class.
TSMC Taiwan had got down to 2 or 3 micron node. Chartered Technology, in Singapore was running at 3 microns.
I1976 Australian company AWA had it's own FAB and began manufacturing advanced semiconductors for pacemakers starting with 20 micron tech. Prior AWA had mad it's own glass tubes and the by hand, manufactured transistors too.
In truth, Australia has few techo-marvels to be proud of.
Yes we developed the Cochlear ear implant (Which contained chips made at the Homebush plant and ostensibly the CSIRO invented Wi-Fi.)
Sadly the Fab was demolished for the extension of the Homebush Railway expansion, in Western Sydney, NSW.
I've linked the video to the 1.2 micron section of the video, but the whole video is worth watching.
https://youtu.be/RbzgfBLrscg?si=TYMznDtWusHVlw8G&t=1296
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