Dutch giant ASML will launch an updated lithography machine that is more advanced than the EUV

Operator Finance Kang Zhao/Wen

On December 14, CNBC reported that the world's most advanced lithography machine manufacturer, the Dutch company AMSL, is developing a new version of the EUV lithography machine, which will become the world's most advanced chip manufacturing equipment. China can't even buy EUV lithography machines now, so we must be more vigilant about this newer lithography machine.

This lithography machine is called High NA (High Numerical Aperture). The first high-NA machine is still being developed and is expected to provide an upfront experience starting in 2023 so chipmakers can start validating and learn how to use it faster. Customers can then do their own research and development work in 2024 and 2025. Starting in 2025, they are likely to be used in high-volume manufacturing.

This NA lithography machine allows chipmakers to develop more complex chips. The lithography machine is a chip production tool and the core equipment for the production of large-scale integrated circuits, which has a decisive influence on the chip process. Chip wafers smaller than 5 nanometers can only be produced with EUV lithography machines. EUV lithography machine is now very famous, in fact, the launch time is not long.

The NV lithography machine has not yet come out, and it has been stared at by chip factories around the world. In July, Intel's CEO said the company was expected to be the first recipient of new ASML machines.

In April 2018, SMIC ordered an EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography machine from Asma, which was supposed to be delivered in early 2019, but has not yet received the goods, because the United States has repeatedly put pressure on the Netherlands in order to restrict the Dutch ASML company from exporting extreme ultraviolet lithography machines (EIVs) to Chinese companies. Ultimately, the Netherlands did not renew asML's export license. China is ASML's second-largest customer, accounting for 20% of its total operating revenue, and ASML hopes to increase its sales in China.

If ASML launches a newer lithography machine in a few years, the gap between the chip foundry capacity of China and foreign countries may be further widened.

(Editor-in-Charge: Han Li)