Have you ever wondered how the lithography machine, which plays a crucial role in the chip manufacturing process, has become a hot topic in the world? It may seem inconspicuous, but why did it make such a big wave?
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In fact, this lithography machine is like the "heart" of chip manufacturing, which is related to the lifeblood of the entire semiconductor industry. In this protracted "lithography machine battle", the Netherlands has always been a key player. Recently, the Dutch government's statement seems to indicate that this farce is finally coming to an end. So, what's going on here?
First of all, we need to understand that chips play a pivotal role in modern industry. And in the process of manufacturing chips, the lithography machine is the "golden key", without it, we cannot open the door to advanced chip manufacturing.
The lithography machine sounds quite professional, but it is actually an important tool for making chips. Among the companies that make such tools, the Dutch company ASML is particularly famous. The lithography machines they produce are particularly good, and 90% of the world's lithography machines are made by them. It's like the NBA team in the basketball world, everyone pays special attention to it, and ASML is also so concerned in the lithography machine world. Their lithography machines are of high quality and strong technology, and everyone is rushing to ask for them.
And the most famous product of ASML is the EUV lithography machine. This machine is really a "big guy", which integrates hundreds of thousands of super precision parts, just like the cells in our body, and each one is super important. Moreover, manufacturing such a machine is not something that ASML can do alone, but also depends on the efforts of more than 5,000 supply chain companies around the world, which is like a big puzzle, each company is one of the pieces, and no one can be missing.
Such a machine requires so many parts and components and so many enterprises to work together, so its technical difficulty and process complexity can be imagined. It's like making a super blockbuster, you need not only first-class directors and actors, but also various behind-the-scenes teams, such as cinematographers, makeup artists, prop masters, etc., every link must not go wrong in order to present the perfect work. Therefore, the EUV lithography machine is really a super powerful thing, and its emergence has made chip manufacturing more accurate and efficient.
However, despite ASML's technological lead, they have been restricted by the United States in exporting lithography machines to China. In order to suppress China's chip industry, the United States has continuously increased export controls on ASML, which has caused ASML a headache. After all, the Chinese market is a big cake for them, and giving up would mean huge losses.
The Dutch government has seen this as well, and they have had to make some concessions in order to protect the interests of local businesses. As a result, we have seen that despite the continuous increase in export controls by the United States, the Netherlands has issued an export license for ASML, so that they can continue to sell lithography machines to China.
Entering 2024, the cooperation between China and the Netherlands on the issue of lithography machines has shown a new positive trend. In just two months, ASML has exported more than 30 lithography machines to China. This is enough to show that the Netherlands has taken a solid step in the export of lithography machines.
This change in attitude of the Dutch government has had a profound impact on the global lithography machine industry pattern. As the Netherlands gradually relaxes its export restrictions to China, more and more foreign companies will also join the competition in the Chinese market. In fact, Japanese lithography machine manufacturers Nikon and Canon have already begun to consider building "special version" lithography machines for China.
It is foreseeable that with the continuous opening and expansion of the Chinese market, the cooperation between the United States, Japan and the Netherlands in the field of lithography machines will face further splits. After all, in the face of huge business interests, any political factor will pale in comparison.
This "lithography machine dispute" is not only a contest about the development of the chip industry, but also a wrestling and interest game between major powers in the field of science and technology. The United States' blind attempt to contain China's scientific and technological development will only harm others and itself in the end. In today's increasingly in-depth globalization, no country can stand alone, and only mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit can achieve common development and prosperity.