Author: DIGITIMES Chen Yujuan Chairman Qiu Mingqian of DIGITIMES has received large orders one after another, and the extreme ultraviolet mask box has obtained ASML certification. Volume will continue to increase in the second half of the year, and the performance is expected to

Author: DIGITIMES Chen Yujuan

Jiadeng Chairman Qiu Mingqian (middle) said that thanks to the placement of orders for extreme ultraviolet mask boxes, as well as the benefits of deepening the Chinese market, a large order of 12-inch front-loading wafer transfer boxes has been received, and the performance in 2018 has rebounded. Photo by DIGITIMES Fu Shimin

Qiu Mingqian, chairman of Deng, a major manufacturer of semiconductor equipment and materials, said on the 29th that benefiting from the " Made in China 2025" grand strategy, investment in new 8-inch and 12-inch wafer fabs has strongly boosted capital in the semiconductor industry. With the expansion of expenditure, coupled with the rise of 5G, mining boom and blockchain, semiconductor demand for high-end nanochips is rising. He is optimistic about the continued growth of the semiconductor industry in the future. Jiadeng will benefit from the new production capacity of 12-inch wafer in factories on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The 12-inch front-opening wafer transfer box (300mm FOUP) large orders are being placed one after another, plus extreme ultraviolet mask boxes (EUV POD) has obtained the ASML certification, and will continue to increase its volume in the second half of the year. Its performance is expected to pick up quarter by quarter, and it should be able to make profits throughout the year. A jump in performance in 2019 is expected.

Jiadeng held a shareholders’ meeting on the 29th, and Chairman Qiu Mingqian made the above remarks. Jiadeng, which received investment from Intel in 2009, its main business includes mask and wafer transfer solutions. Currently, mask solutions account for more than 50% of revenue.

In order to improve production efficiency, Jiaden launched the Shugu factory in Taiwan in mid-2017 to integrate the production base and continue to strengthen its deeper layout for customers in the domestic market.

Qiu Mingqian said that the semiconductor industry is a high-capital, high-tech-intensive industry with high entry barriers and a long gestation time for mature technologies. Jiaden has gone through a restructuring period of new factories and developing new technologies. Strategically, it has replaced divergence with focus and purchased materials, equipment and other related manufacturers in the industry. We will establish strategic alliances, establish long-term partnerships, and seek high-efficiency cooperation models to meet market expectations for improved product performance and support speed. We will strive to improve operational efficiency, integrate the upstream, midstream, and downstream of the industry, deeply explore the Chinese market to develop our advantages, and continue to extend our old leading position to increase the overall gross profit margin.

Qiu Mingqian further pointed out that Jiadeng's main photomask carrier products are currently in a clear situation. The extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology that has been expected for 10 years has been officially commercialized. Semiconductor manufacturers are gradually advancing high-end processes below 7 nanometers, and the demand for equipment purchase has been reflected in order purchases.

html In 2009, Jiadeng fully committed to the EUV program. The latest extreme ultraviolet mask box has been certified by ASML's NXE3400 machine, and is now conducting product certification operations with many customers. Although EUV mass production faces many challenges, due to the miniaturization of semiconductors, only EUV technology can break through the process bottleneck and has a cost advantage. Therefore, Jiadeng continues to be optimistic about the next wave of growth demand for extreme ultraviolet mask boxes.

It is reported that the current main customers of Jiadengji UV mask box are TSMC and Intel , and other companies are still negotiating. As for wafer carrier products, in line with the "Made in China 2025" policy and the construction plan of more than 20 local 12-inch wafer fabs, Jiadeng's 12-inch front-opening wafer transfer box has been certified by major front-end manufacturers. With the performance of incremental back-end packaging and testing plants, the order visibility in the next few years is quite clear. The market expects that as orders for 12-inch front-loading wafer transfer boxes are gradually received, extreme ultraviolet mask boxes have also begun to be shipped in small quantities, and business activity will increase in the second half of the year.