SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP MANUFACTURING
The CHIPS and Science Act allocates $39 billion until 2027 to strengthen domestic semiconductor chip production, research, and supply chain security. Being first to full production is key, so manufacturers are rapidly expanding their footprint.
Complex semiconductor chip fabs (manufacturing facilities) have precise requirements for cleanrooms and machinery installation, but facility process tool placement and utility routing often change late in construction. For this reason, installation flexibility is crucial.
ELIMINATING DELAYS IN FAB CONSTRUCTION
Texas Instruments faced a common challenge during fab construction: traditional pipe-and-wire installations were causing significant delays in the tooling design phase of their projects. Conduit and wire were installed early in construction, but once production lines and machinery were positioned, the electrical infrastructure frequently needed to be relocated and reinstalled to accommodate the actual equipment layout. This rework was time-consuming and costly, directly impacting their ability to meet aggressive time-to-market goals.
ARMORED CABLE SOLUTIONS
Service Wire proposed Jacketed MC cable as an alternative solution that could provide the installation flexibility Texas Instruments needed during the construction phase. Jacketed MC cable is a metal-clad (helically wound, interlocked armor) electrical cable with an outer jacket—providing protection and durability without conduit. Unlike rigid conduit systems that require extensive rework when tool locations shift, MC cable can be bent and repositioned, while the protective jacket gives durability throughout the process.
By installing Jacketed MC with extra cable length on either side of the production line, electricians could accommodate layout changes once machinery was in place simply by adjusting the cable slack and re-terminating connections. This eliminated the need for complete reinstallation, keeping the project on schedule, and avoiding costly delays.