Empowering $1.4 Billion Wafer Fabrication Line! Saisi Time Synchronization Server Deployed for Hysci Semiconductor Wuxi M8 Project

The smarter an automated production line becomes, the higher its requirements for time synchronization. Recently, Saisi modular time synchronization servers have been deployed to empower the Hysci Semiconductor Wuxi M8 Project, delivering a precise timing foundation for its $1.4 billion wafer fabrication line.

1. Hysci M8: Benchmark Production Line for China-South Korea Semiconductor Collaboration

As a key investment project of SK Hynix in China, the Hysci Semiconductor Wuxi M8 Project represents a core achievement of the full relocation of the 8-inch mature production line from Cheongju, South Korea. With a total investment of $1.4 billion and a designed monthly capacity of up to 115,000 wafers, its output exceeds twice the average capacity of mainstream 8-inch wafer manufacturers.

The fab specializes in 8-inch non-memory wafer foundry services, focusing on core products such as display driver ICs (DDI), power management ICs (PMIC), and CMOS image sensors (CIS). The production line adopts multi-layer intelligent manufacturing automation systems including MES, EAP, SPC, FDC, R2R and RTM, featuring highly connected workflows and real-time data exchange. It serves as a high-standard, high-volume analog wafer manufacturing base.

2. Production Line Expansion Exposes Critical Timing Bottlenecks

Wafer fabrication is an ultra-precision continuous manufacturing process. A single wafer goes through multiple processes within a short timeframe. A unified, accurate and reliable time reference across the entire factory is a fundamental prerequisite for yield control, batch traceability and failure analysis.

In compliance with the authoritative SEMI E148 (TS-Clock) standard for the semiconductor industry, production equipment requires standardized clock synchronization. Time alignment across the facility is implemented via the NTPv4 protocol, with clock offset and accuracy metrics reported in real time to guarantee orderly production sequences, trustworthy data and auditable processes. In highly automated fabs, many unexplained inspection deviations, data gaps and yield fluctuations often stem from overlooked time synchronization anomalies.

As the Hysci M8 production line continues to expand, and AOI optical inspection tools, GigE industrial cameras and new automated tools are deployed in batches, the factory faces a sharp surge in concurrent time-synchronization requests from massive end devices. Limitations of the original timing system became fully apparent: insufficient device capacity, weak concurrent processing performance, and support only for basic NTP timing. It failed to meet the microsecond-level synchronization requirements for precision manufacturing and could not satisfy the specifications of high-end wafer fabs and the SEMI E148 industry standard.

3. Saisi Solution: Addressing Fab Timing Challenges from Multiple Dimensions

Drawing on years of expertise in time-frequency technology and proven semiconductor project experience, Saisi developed a custom solution tailored to the unique operating conditions of the Hysci fab for the M8 line. By deploying high-precision redundant master clock systems, Saisi fully resolves the factory’s timing bottlenecks and builds a standardized, high-precision and highly reliable timing foundation for advanced wafer intelligent manufacturing.

Dual-protocol output of PTP + NTP to precisely match diverse accuracy requirements. The Saisi modular time synchronization server supports synchronous output of both PTP and NTP protocols to cover high and low precision scenarios across the fab. Leveraging nanosecond-level accuracy of IEEE1588 PTP, it ensures consistent timing for AOI optical inspection, multi-camera synchronous capture and precision process calibration. Millisecond-level stable timing via NTP meets synchronization needs for MES traceability, server maintenance, facility management, security and power systems.

High concurrency and large capacity to accommodate massive end devices after expansion. Optimized for the expanded scale of end points on the production line, Saisi time synchronization servers feature large device load capacity and robust concurrent processing, stably handling simultaneous time requests from thousands of terminals. All equipment including production machines, industrial cameras, servers and monitoring terminals share the same time reference, maintaining a highly unified factory-wide time base.

Industrial-grade anti-interference performance for the strong electromagnetic environment of wafer workshops. Etchers, thin-film deposition tools, RF power supplies and other high-power equipment continuously generate strong electromagnetic interference inside wafer fabrication workshops. Saisi time synchronization servers adopt high-standard industrial EMC design with enhanced resistance to electric field, magnetic field and pulse interference, preventing time reference drift under complex operating conditions.

4. Build Intelligent Manufacturing on a Solid Timing Foundation

The smarter an automated production line becomes, the more stringent its timing requirements. This deployment not only upgrades precision timing capabilities, but also delivers another solid validation of Saisi’s time-frequency technology in advanced wafer manufacturing scenarios.

Moving forward, Saisi will continue to invest in time-frequency technology research. With more accurate and reliable time foundations, Saisi will support digital transformation across diverse industries and underpin stable operations of intelligent manufacturing and digital infrastructure.