Kioxia and Sandisk Launch Production of 10th-Generation 3D Flash Memory at Japan’s Kitakami Fab
Kioxia Corporation, a subsidiary of Kioxia Holdings Corporation (TOKYO: 285A), and Sandisk Corporation (Nasdaq: SNDK) have officially commenced production of their next-generation 3D NAND flash memory at the Fab2 (K2) facility within the Kitakami Plant in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The move marks a significant milestone in the companies’ long-standing collaboration and supports growing global demand for advanced flash memory solutions.
To celebrate the achievement, the partners held an unveiling ceremony for the K2 facility, which opened in September 2025. Initially producing 8th-generation 3D flash memory, the plant is now transitioning to volume production of the companies’ latest 10th-generation technology. Both the eighth and tenth generations leverage the innovative CMOS directly Bonded to Array (CBA) architecture, delivering higher performance, increased storage capacity, and improved power efficiency.
The Fab2 facility has been designed with sustainability and operational resilience in mind. It features earthquake-resistant construction, energy-efficient manufacturing equipment, AI-driven production optimization, and a space-efficient cleanroom layout that maximizes manufacturing capacity while improving operational efficiency.
The production milestone follows the recent extension of the Kioxia-Sandisk joint venture through December 2034. The partnership, which has spanned more than 25 years, continues to play a key role in advancing NAND flash memory technology. Ongoing investments in the K2 facility are expected to support long-term production growth and strengthen both companies’ ability to deliver leading-edge flash memory products at scale.
Koichiro Shibayama, President and CEO of Kioxia Iwate Corporation, said the start of production represents another important step in supporting the rapidly expanding AI market. He noted that the advanced flash memory products manufactured at Fab2 will create new value for customers while contributing to sustainable business growth, technological innovation, and regional economic development.
Alper Ilkbahar, Chief Technology Officer of Sandisk Corporation, highlighted the significance of the milestone, stating that decades of collaboration between Sandisk and Kioxia have consistently driven innovation in NAND flash memory. He added that the launch of 10th-generation production at Kitakami will help meet rising global demand for high-performance storage technologies while creating economic opportunities for local communities and reinforcing strong U.S.-Japan industrial cooperation.
With continued joint development and strategic capital investments, Kioxia and Sandisk remain committed to strengthening their partnership and maintaining leadership in next-generation 3D flash memory technologies.
About Sandisk
Sandisk (Nasdaq: SNDK) delivers innovative Flash solutions and advanced memory technologies that meet people and businesses at the intersection of their aspirations and the moment, enabling them to keep moving and pushing possibility forward.
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About Kioxia
Kioxia is a world leader in memory solutions, dedicated to the development, production and sale of flash memory and solid-state drives (SSDs). In April 2017, its predecessor Toshiba Memory was spun off from Toshiba Corporation, the company that invented NAND flash memory in 1987. Kioxia is committed to uplifting the world with “memory” by offering products, services and systems that create choice for customers and memory-based value for society. Kioxia’s innovative 3D flash memory technology, BiCS FLASH™, is shaping the future of storage in high-density applications, including advanced smartphones, PCs, automotive systems, data centers and generative AI systems.
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