Newport has made semiconductors since 1978
- The Inmos fab
- The transputer
- Continuous chipmaking since
- One of few UK fabs
How Newport grew
The short version, in order. Pick a year.
The Inmos fab
When Britain decided to build its own semiconductor industry, the headquarters went to Bristol and the manufacturing came to Newport. The plant made the transputer, a microprocessor designed to be wired directly to others.
The Inmos fab, and the chips made in Gwent
When Britain decided in 1978 to build its own semiconductor industry, the company was Inmos, the headquarters went to Bristol and the manufacturing came to Newport. The plant made the transputer, a microprocessor designed to be wired directly to other transputers so that adding chips added power.
Conventional processors eventually overtook the design, but the fab and the skills did not leave. South Wales has made semiconductors continuously ever since, and the cluster around Newport remains one of the few places in the United Kingdom where chips are physically manufactured rather than merely designed.
It is an unglamorous kind of importance. Almost nothing you use works without a component made somewhere like this.
What that means if you trade in Newport
Newport sits between Cardiff and Bristol and competes with both, which means local businesses are often chosen for being nearer and easier rather than cheaper.
Saying plainly that you are in Newport, and how quickly you can get to somebody, is therefore worth more than any amount of general polish.
What Newport businesses ask us for
Lead with proximity
Against Cardiff and Bristol competitors, being close and available is the argument. Make it early.
Consider Welsh
Even a bilingual heading signals that you are local rather than a Bristol firm reaching across the bridge.
Give a response time
Not just an area. How soon can you actually be there.
How well do you know Newport?
Five quick questions. Get all five right and you win a 10% off discount code for your website. Every answer is somewhere on this page, so have a read if you get stuck.
Newport quiz · 1 of 5
What did the Newport plant manufacture from 1978?
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