Intel says it reached an important milestone in the rollout of new manufacturing technology at its Irish plant.
The chip-maker said it produced light from its extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system, which was installed at its new Fab 34 facility in Leixlip, Co Kildare.
This is a key step in the development of its Intel 4 technology, which will allow it to produce smaller, more efficient processor chips.
"It took 18 months of design and construction activity to prepare the Fab 34 building to receive the machine," Intel said in a statement. "Following its arrival in Leixlip, the journey to generating first light has been an incredibly complex one that relied upon the intricate alignment of multiple factors."
Intel hopes to be able to mass-produce more advanced chip at Leixlip from the second half of next year, with new products coming to market in 2024.
It is part of its attempt to regain "process leadership" from rivals like AMD.
