Globalfoundries was opened up for contract semiconductor business a little more than a month ago. However, the ex-manufacturing arm of Advanced Micro Devices is already working hard to attract new customers and has a rather aggressive technology roadmap. Already this year the company will offer 32nm bulk technology suitable for graphics processors and going forward it will add 28nm tech as well as high-k metal gate.

“We intend on competing for AMD’s graphics business in the 32nm/28nm technology node,” said Tom Sonderman, vice president of manufacturing systems and technology at Globalfoundries, in an interview with X-bit labs.

In fact, “competing” may not be exactly correct word as AMD, one of the owners of Globalfoundries, is obliged to acquire both microprocessors as well as graphics processing units from Globalfoundries. But there will be more customers – primarily from the U.S. and Europe – that require leading edge fabrication processes and currently work in the markets of graphics chips, video game consoles and other complex devices.

“Close to 70% of our addressable market is in California alone with a number of other key customers in Europe. […] PC platform technologies (CPUs, GPUs), wireless, game consoles and telecom are a few examples of markets we’re targeting,” said Mr. Sonderman.

Being a contract maker of chips, Globalfoundries will naturally be able to make products for many companies, including Microsoft, Nvidia and Qualcomm, just to name a few (Globalfoundries would not disclose names of customers) and the first clients may turn to the new company already this year.

“32nm bulk silicon is already running in Dresden and we’ll be ready to accept customer designs later this year with an aggressive production ramp in 2010,” said the vice president of manufacturing systems and technology at Globalfoundries.

Tags: Globalfoundries, Semiconductor, AMD, TFC, 28nm, 32nm