On 3 April 2024, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan, with the epicenter located near the south of Hualien City. The intensity of the earthquake was reported as 6+ in nearby cities, including Taipei. Given Taiwan’s vulnerability to earthquakes, robust emergency preparedness measures and response protocols were already in place. These responses were activated swiftly especially in the facilities of the valuable semiconductor industry.
During the earthquake, most of the semiconductor factories experienced downtime, impacting major wafer factories, IC testing plants, and TFT-LCD panel factories. Personnel were evacuated, and some process tools in the cleanrooms of the fab buildings were shut down. Reports indicate that operations for advanced processes were also temporarily suspended.
Based on observations, the extent of the damages and losses in the factories can be attributed to factors such as the earthquake magnitude in the area, the capacity utilization rate during the earthquake, and the anti-seismic design of the factory buildings. Two key questions arise: Are the anti-seismic measures for non-structure elements (NSEs) and production equipment comprehensive? And do the original equipment and the factory hardware design possess any anti-seismic characteristics?
In past major earthquakes, Lockton’s Risk Consulting team in Taiwan has successfully assisted the semiconductor industry by providing seismic protection solutions. Collaborating with professional licensed third parties certified in seismic protection civil and structural engineering, the team has implemented risk improvement programs for major high-tech clients. Leveraging their knowledge background, the team has developed performance-based design solutions and engineered several anti-seismic facilities. These improvements have already demonstrated their effectiveness in multiple earthquakes.
Our solutions have been proven practical and outstanding in meeting the desired seismic performance, effectively preventing damage of delicate process equipment and microelectronic products.
Please download our white paper to access a full report on Lockton Risk Consulting team’s work in protecting our semiconductor clients from seismic damages.
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Contact Us
For further information, please contact our team.
Bruce Lee, SVP, Risk Management - Taiwan | bruce.lee@lockton.com (opens a new window)
Lawrence Li, Director & General Manager – Taiwan | lawrence.li@lockton.com (opens a new window)
