As we all know, if you want to produce mobile phone chips, you can't do without TSMC ASML.
To put it simply, the more advanced the support chip, the more it needs better manufacturing technology and technology, and the more inseparable it is from the EUV lithography machine. This is more evident on chips below the 7nm process.
This is also why TSMC single-handedly supplies 60% of the global market, but ASML is still not afraid. Because for many buyers, TSMC is only a buyer here, and the initiative is always in their hands.
For example, Huawei, in the past 3 years, has actually been the need for TSMC chips and can not, in the same way, ASML will always stand in the upstream of this demand.
However, a lot of people have begun to say goodbye to ASML. In the case of Huawei, although a lot of efforts and research are to completely solve the problem of the lack of its own chip production and manufacturing capabilities, it is also fundamentally away from ASML.
Why do we say that, we need to briefly put together the logic!
First, the status of ASML should be clear
Many people know that TSMC is a giant in the chip manufacturing industry, with advanced technology and technology, yield has obtained near-monopoly profits; but many people do not know that ASML is the only business in the world. Lithography machine this product, for now, the world's only ASML enterprise can produce.
It is reasonable to say that such a company with a complete monopoly dominance should strengthen the supply to obtain profits, but it is also because of the unique reason that he has become some kind of bargaining chip that can blackmail the buyer. Some manufacturers paid as early as 2019, and as a result, they did not receive the equipment by 2022. Coupled with the Reasons for the Walson Agreement, it's hard to say when we'll receive the device.
Second, alternatives are already accelerating
Because the current chip manufacturing and production of lithography machines are inseparable, but ASML cannot be shipped freely, this leads to a very sharp and obvious problem - either you find a new alternative, or you become the second ASML.
Regarding alternatives, in fact, the industry has already begun to work hard. For example, the NIL process technology jointly launched by the traditional semiconductor giants Canon, Jiaoxia and many other manufacturers is specifically designed to solve this problem. From Canon's point of view, the NIL process can also produce chips for 5nm and other processes without using an EUV lithography machine; this can effectively save costs. From the data point of view, the NIL process compared to the EUV lithography machine can reduce the equipment cost by 90%, not to mention other various energy waste, the most important thing is that if the technology and ecology continue to develop and progress, 2025 can achieve mass production of 5nm chips.
In addition, domestic industrial chain enterprises, Russian market and enterprises, and some Japanese enterprises are developing their own domestic lithography machine products. For example, in the domestic market, some achievements have been made: Nanda Optoelectronics has mastered the production and manufacturing technology of Afr photoresist, and many universities have achieved breakthroughs in light source technology, film permeability and cutting technology.
In the end, Huawei found a path to overtake in the corners
The reason why the EUV lithography machine can become a necessity is because it is a necessity for the production and manufacture of advanced process chips, and advanced process chips mean more powerful performance guarantees; but now this situation has changed.
This change is mainly brought about by two companies. The first is Apple, and the Apple M1 Ultra chip they have just released will be to package two M1 Max chips together, thus achieving a doubling of performance, and the key is that the cost is reduced by half. The second is Huawei, the same similar stacking technology, the famous domestic manufacturer Huawei has also achieved public relations and patent layout, but also with area and space for performance. This all proves a truth - without ASML's lithography machine, powerful chips can still be manufactured.
Mr. Ren Zhengfei, the founder of Huawei, once said: Only a comprehensive break can completely solve the problem of card neck. Therefore, in the face of the continuous revision of chip rules in beautiful countries, Huawei chose not to surrender; similarly, when the development of the enterprise was in trouble, Huawei chose to spend the winter to let HiSilicon continue to climb the peak; similarly, in the face of the two major problems of 5G network and performance chips in the full restart of Huawei's mobile phones, Huawei chose to stand with the domestic supply chain to make up lessons.
Poke the sky upwards Down to the roots, more than 3 years of waiting and hard work has not been in vain. From now on, ASML's lithography machine and technology are no longer the only answer to making advanced chips, and it is only a matter of time before it leaves. What do you think about that? Welcome to leave a comment below the article, let's exchange and learn together!