ASML
ASML actively sells lithography machines
With the advent of the intelligent era, chips have also become an important strategic resource. As the core equipment for chip manufacturing, the importance of photolithography machines is also increasing. As one of the leaders, ASML has also grown into a global technology giant. However, precisely because of the importance of photolithography machines, it has long been regarded as a means to limit the development of our technology. However, ASML's attitude has gradually changed recently and it has begun to actively supply photolithography machines.
China has become ASML’s largest market
According to data released by ASML, a total of 62 photolithography systems were sold in the first quarter of 2022. China has become ASML’s largest customer, with a market share of 34%. It is expected that imported lithography systems will be imported. The number of engraving machines has reached 22. In 2021, China's market share is only 16%, and it can be seen that the number of imported lithography machines has almost doubled.
ASML has begun to accelerate the sales of photolithography machines.
ASML is getting rid of control. The importance of
chips is attracting global attention, and various countries have also begun to increase investment in research and development in the chip field. Europe has invested 43 billion euros and is eager to make a breakthrough. ASML's old rivals, Nikon and Canon , are also actively promoting NIL technology in an attempt to catch up with ASML. At the same time, the emergence of advanced sealing and transfer technology and stacking technology also make ASML's technology leader. There was a flaw.
For ASML, it is necessary to expand its influence on a global scale. After all, if ASML lithography machine sales increase, it will be able to squeeze out the market share of other manufacturers, thereby ensuring its own technical advantage. Therefore, ASML is also trying to get rid of control and increase the export number of photolithography machines.
ASML lithography machine
ASML is looking for a second path
With the development of new energy and other technologies, the global science and technology center has gradually shifted to China. After many countries announced that they would stop selling traditional fuel vehicles in 2035, the development speed of new energy vehicles has also become faster and faster. As the fastest growing region for new energy vehicles in the world, domestic chip production is also increasing year by year. The annual chip production in 2021 will reach 359.43 billion pieces, a year-on-year increase of 33.3%, making it the region with the fastest growing chip production in the world.
In the future, with the advancement of smart cities, Internet of Things, 5G and other technologies, chip production is expected to be further improved. China is becoming a core force that cannot be ignored in the global chip market. As a lithography machine giant, ASML naturally cannot give up this market. Technology is important, but the market is equally important. Whether it is an annual output of 359.43 billion chips or an unlimited development trend in the future, ASML will be unable to bear the loss once it switches to other lithography machine manufacturers.
Therefore, ASML has not only expanded the sales volume of photolithography machines, but is also further increasing its investment in the country. The first is to expand the scale of domestic R&D centers and plans to recruit 200 R&D personnel. The next step is to prepare to build a lithography machine maintenance center in China to better serve domestic chip companies.
Domestic optical machine manufacturer
is written at the end
It is undeniable that ASML’s accelerated sales of lithography machines have indeed played a positive role in promoting the domestic chip manufacturing industry; but on the other hand, ASML’s price reduction method is also to cope with domestic demand A strategy used by photolithography machine manufacturers to compete. At the same time, although it has increased the export of mid-to-low-end lithography machines such as DUV lithography machines, ASML still refuses to sell high-end EUV lithography machines.
This approach has also led to an undesirable consequence, that is, domestic lithography machine manufacturers have difficulty in obtaining funds to develop high-end lithography machines due to insufficient sales of low-end lithography machines; and ASML still chooses to refuse to provide high-end lithography machines. , which also makes it difficult to achieve breakthroughs in 7nm and more advanced processes. How
strikes a balance between purchasing ASML lithography machines and supporting domestic lithography machines has also become a difficult problem that must be faced. Do you think we should continue to increase the purchase of ASML lithography machines or support the domestic lithography machine industry? Welcome to leave a message for discussion.
