Why would they have an ASIC chip before the fab has made them? And when the fab has made them they're only days/weeks away from shipping.

Design house [idea & specs] -> electronics wiz [board design, ASIC design] -> ASIC fab -> electronics assembly -> seller

Sort of. I'd assume KnC would be the design house and ORSoC the electronics wiz as well as assembly house. Which fab they use I wouldn't know - but there's a limit to the amount of 28nm capable plants in the world.

(Helveticoin's 28nm ASIC is one I believe exists since ST-Microelectronics is partners with one of them)