Key Apple Chip Supplier TSMC Hit With Gas Contamination Used in Chipmaking Process

A key Apple supplier’s plant has been hit by a contamination of gas used in the chipmaking process.

According to a new report from Nikkei, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s plant that makes processors for Apple was hit with a contamination of gas used in the chipmaking process.

“Some TSMC production lines in the South Taiwan Science Park received certain gases from suppliers that are believed to be contaminated. These were quickly replaced with other gas supplies,” the company told Nikkei, adding that the contamination was discovered on Thursday night.

Fab 18 is reportedly TSMC’s most advanced chipmaking facility. All of the latest processors for upcoming iPhones and Mac computers are produced there, industry sources told Nikkei.

The company explained that “some” production lines in the facility had received gas from certain suppliers that it believed were contaminated, but said that these had been quickly replaced. The company also said that it was carrying out follow-up operations to make sure there would be no issues with production quality.

The gas contamination happens in a moment when suppliers are finalizing components and preparing to begin final assembly for the latest Apple products, including the iPhone 13 lineup.