Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will soon break ground for the third phase construction of its new 12-inch wafer plant in central Taiwan. according to an invitation to the groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for December 9.

Dubbed Fab 15, the plant is TSMC's third Gigafab, which will initially focus on the manufacture of 28nm technology products. TSMC completed equipment move-in for the phase 1 facility of Fab 15 in June, with volume production slated for the first quarter of 2012, the foundry said previously.

Industry sources were quoted in a recent report saying TSMC had seen orders for advanced 28nm technology heat up, despite a general slowdown in orders for mature processes. The sources estimated 28nm would account for more than 2% of TSMC's overall sales in the fourth quarter, and over 10% sometime in 2012.

TSMC chairman Morris Chang remarked at the company's investors meeting in October that sales from 28nm processes would play an important source of company growth in 2012. Sales generated from the node technology would grow rapidly starting the fourth quarter.

Chang also forecast the 2012 semiconductor market will see a moderate 3-5% rise, and TSMC's sales growth is expected to be several percentage points higher than the market average.