Samsung Austin Semiconductor LLC today announced that a $4 billion investment at its Austin, Texas, site is on schedule for production of state-of-the-art mobile application processors within the second half of 2013.

The remodeled fabrication line will produce state-of-the-art mobile application processors on 300 mm wafers at the 28 nanometer process node. The new boost in production will occur within the second half of 2013 and is expected to alleviate the rapidly growing demand for application processors for mobile devices.

Along with new renovations from the fabrication front, Samsung's local research branch, Samsung Austin Research Center, also grew its presence with about 200 engineers dedicated to design and development of the latest technologies for mobile application processors.

"Our ongoing, multi-billion dollar investments in Austin will expand our footprint as a comprehensive semiconductor hub and demonstrate our strong commitment to manufacturing, research and development in the United States," said Woosung Han, president of Samsung Austin Semiconductor.

Samsung's campus in Austin currently employs 2,500 direct employees, of which 300 are highly skilled military veterans recently brought on board as engineers and technicians. Moreover, the vast scope of the fabrication operation calls for a strong network of vendors, leading to employment of over 2,500 indirect contract employees.

Samsung's investment in Austin marks the largest foreign investment ever made in the state of Texas by far. The company's total investment in Samsung Austin Semiconductor since 1996 will reach $11 billion by year's end and including the recently announced $4 billion investment, it will exceed $15 billion.