LONDON — Intel's Fab 24 in Leixlip, Ireland, has started production using 300mm wafers and 90nm process technology.

The company has invested $2billion in the facility which is its fourth 300mm manufacturing facility to go onlineand the third to use 90nm technology.

Intel says use of 300mm wafers reduces the costs per individual component by approximately 30percent. The new technology will use 40percent less energy and water for each chip than previous generation technologies. The 90nm process enables a doubling of transistor density on a given integrated chip of the same size.

Intel has manufactured semiconductors in Ireland since 1990.