Micron will pull Japan up to the level of Taiwan - production of DRAM on the most advanced technological process will start there too

According to Japanese sources, Micron intends to start production of RAM chips with 1β technological process in Japan by the end of this year.
This was announced two weeks ago in Taiwan during Computex 2022.
Traditionally, Micron's new processors get to Taiwan early, but this time the American memory manufacturer decided to pull Japan up to Taiwan's level without too much delay.Image source: MicronThe production of DRAM memory using the 1β process will increase the density of memory cells even slightly.
Right now, Micron's most advanced 10nm process is the 1α process.
Moving from 1z to 1α resulted in up to 40% increase in memory density and 15-20% improvement in energy savings.
The company did not disclose the exact details of how much better 1β would be than 1α.
It is important to note that the 1β memory process (which could conceivably be 12- or 11nm) would not require the latest EUV scanners.
Production will still rely on 193nm DUV scanners.
In that sense, upgrading the Japanese lines will be relatively inexpensive for Micron.
The upgrade work is taking place at the former Elpida Memory plant in Hiroshima, which Micron got after buying the Japanese manufacturer in 2013.Now analysts would like to hear more details from Micron about the next tech process, 1γ (gamma).
So far it is known that the production of memory using 1γ will start in 2024.
This will require the installation of new EUV scanners.
Earlier, the company promised that it would show the first 13.5 nm \"extreme\" wavelength scanners at its Taiwanese production facility later this year.
The Japanese also want these, but when they will be available is a mystery to Micron.