A Petabyte in the Palm of My Hand - Kioxia Factory Tour
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Description
A huge thanks to KIOXIA for sponsoring this video and for giving us this once in a life time opportunity. You can learn more about KIOXIA at: kioxia.com We flew to Japan to tour KIOXIA’s Yokkaichi Plant; a facility the size of approximately 98 soccer fields that uses state of the art automation to build the flash memory that may just live in your pocket. See how they do it in this very exclusive look inside one of the world's largest flash memory manufacturing facilities.
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Channels and socials
Check out the @BranchEducation series of videos on flash storage: youtube.com Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com
A Petabyte in the Palm of My Hand - Kioxia Factory Tour delves into the massive scale and cutting edge processes behind one of the world’s largest flash memory facilities. The video opens by contrasting early storage milestones with today’s tiny, high-capacity drives, highlighting how a single LC9 SSD can store a staggering amount of data thanks to 32 stacked die layers and ultra-dense NAND packaging. Viewers are guided through the Yokkaichi fab complex, described as seven fabs spanning hundreds of thousands of square feet, with attention to the sheer size, automation, and the ecosystems built to sustain such production. The host explains the importance of silicon purity, wafer handling, and the role of automated transport systems, foops, and clean rooms in enabling mass production while keeping defect rates extremely low. A central theme is the interplay between density, reliability, and manufacturing efficiency, illustrated by techniques like PECVD, SIMOS bonded wafers, and backside grinding that enable multi-layer stacks without sacrificing performance or yield. The tour then shifts to the subterranean infrastructure that supports the fab, including subfabs, gas neutralization, and sophisticated water management that emphasizes sustainability. The host humorously notes the extreme precision required and the significant role AI plays in defect detection, data analysis, and digital twins that optimize the production line. Throughout the visit, the video balances awe at the scale with practical explanations of how tiny, intricate connections and gold wires translate into the devices powering everyday tech. The tour concludes by showcasing earthquake safeguards, ground movement dampers, and the decoupled basement design that helps the facility withstand Japan’s seismic activity, reinforcing the message that cutting-edge manufacturing combines engineering discipline with environmental stewardship. Viewers are invited to learn more about Kioxia and the technologies behind modern storage, as well as to explore related content in the Branch Education and related channels. The closing moment emphasizes the lasting impact of these facilities on personal devices and the broader storage industry, while inviting further exploration and sponsorship transparency.
Topics · science & technology · industrial manufacturing · semiconductor fabrication · sustainability
Questions answered
- What makes Kioxia's storage chips so dense, and how is that density achieved?
- Density is achieved through multi-die NAND stacks, 32 stacked die layers, and advanced bonding techniques such as SIMOS direct bonding, with careful backside grinding to create ultra-thin stacks while maintaining electrical integrity.
- How does the facility manage water and environmental impact at such a scale?
- The plant uses on-site water reclamation and advanced filtration to recycle water, reducing waste and reusing water across processes, alongside solar deployments to support sustainable energy goals.