China has a huge semiconductor industry to meet global needs for integrated circuits (IC). Most of the well-known semiconductor manufacturers use Vacon AC drives in the HVAC systems at their plants. It all started with the first customer, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) head-quartered in Shanghai.

1. Reference Story
controlling hvac* at smic’s plants
Vacon is gaining ground in the semiconductor industry in China
through its long-term strategy
China has a huge semiconductor industry to meet global Any failure in the HVAC equipment would result in production
needs for integrated circuits (IC). Most of the well-known losses costing thousands of dollars. The quality of the air is
semiconductor manufacturers use Vacon AC drives in the even more important than energy savings.
HVAC systems at their plants. It all started with the first cus-
tomer, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corpora-
Outstanding reliability, performance and durability
tion (SMIC) headquartered in Shanghai.
Vacon China identified a huge demand for AC drives in the
Established in 2000, SMIC is one of the leading semiconduc- semiconductor industry and delivered the first drives to SMIC
tor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced in 2004. At that time competing brands of AC drives were run-
foundry on the Chinese mainland, providing IC foundry and ning at SMIC’s factories and at the other major semiconductor
technology services for a broad range of nodes from 0.35 μm plants. Through a partner, however, Vacon China succeeded
to 40 nm. SMIC has built six factories on one site in Shanghai in supplying around 40 AC drives to control all the exhaust
and employs some 7,000 people there. fans at SMIC’s new plant in Shanghai.
The Vacon AC drives have demonstrated their durability and
High standards for HVAC equipment and air quality
ability to perform in a demanding environment with high re-
The semiconductor industry sets very strict standards for quirements. Vacon’s partner Shanghai Okon provides on-site
the equipment it uses, and AC drives are no exception. The maintenance round the clock, seven days a week to ensure
simple reason for this is that all the equipment has to operate unbroken production at the plant. This is highly appreciated
all round the clock and right through the year so as to keep by Mr Zhang, Facility Manager at SMIC. “We are very satis-
the production environment, and consequently the product fied with the durability of the Vacon drives. All the drives have
quality, stable. been running continuously for more than seven years with-
out any failures. In addition, Shanghai Okon provides a pro-
The quality of the air in the workshops is strictly controlled fessional technical support and maintenance service for us,
and must be maintained to a high standard in respect of the which greatly improves our production efficiency and brings
temperature, humidity, pressure, flow rate and cleanness. significant savings in operational costs,” says Mr Zhang.

2. Vacon the preferred choice when retrofitting
SMIC has also chosen about 60 Vacon AC drives for its fac-
tories in Chengdu and Wuhan. When replacing any failed
drives at the plants, SMIC has selected Vacon as its preferred
choice. The efforts of Shanghai Okon are paying off and an
increasing share of the drives at SMIC’s factories in Shanghai
are Vacon AC drives.
Many other major semiconductor compaines have followed
SMIC’s example by building similar factories in Eastern China
and have chosen Vacon AC drives. With its long-term strat-
egy, Vacon has become an industry benchmark and will in-
crease its market share in the semiconductor industry in the
coming years.
SMIC in brief
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (NYSE:
SMI; SEHK: 981) is headquartered in Shanghai, China. SMIC has
a 300 mm wafer fabrication facility (fab) and three 200 mm wa-
fer fabs at its Shanghai mega-fab, two 300 mm wafer fabs in its When retrofitting at SMIC’s plant, Vacon is regarded as
Beijing mega-fab, a 200 mm wafer fab in Tianjin, and a 200 mm the preferred AC drive brand.
fab under construction in Shenzhen. SMIC has customer service
and marketing offices in the USA, Europe, Japan and Taiwan, and
a representative office in Hong Kong. SMIC also manages and
operates a 300 mm wafer fab in Wuhan owned by Wuhan Xinxin
Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation.
*HVAC = Heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
** μm = micrometre, one-millionth of a metre; nm = nanometre,
a billionth of a metre
Vacon Group
Runsorintie 7, 65380 Vaasa, Finland
Tel. +358 (0)201 2121
RS000150A
Fax +358 (0)201 212 205
www.vacon.com
info@vacon.com