Micron starts 1α DRAM production at Virginia plant

Micron Technology has begun production of what it calls the most advanced memory chips ever manufactured in the United States at its facility in Manassas, Virginia. The company announced the start of 1α (1-alpha) DRAM production, marking a significant milestone in its multi-billion dollar U.S. expansion plan.

The new chips will be used for DDR4 and LP4 memory, which are critical for long-lifecycle applications in sectors including automotive, defense, aerospace, industrial equipment, networking, and medical devices. Micron stated the 1α node technology will quadruple DDR4 wafer output at the Virginia site. The company has invested over $2 billion to expand and modernize the Manassas facility, which supports more than 3,100 direct jobs. Full qualification of the production line is expected by the end of 2026.

The event was attended by company CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. Officials highlighted the project as part of a broader push to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing, noting it was supported by federal incentives, including those tied to the...