When you mention lithography machine , you will probably think of the famous ASML. It can not only mass-produce DUV lithography machines, but also is the only manufacturer in the world that can mass-produce EUV lithography machines. In particular, EUV lithography machines are its biggest magic weapon in the field of lithography machines all year round.
is also because of this. Whether it is TSMC, or chip giants such as Samsung and Intel , they all hope to obtain the priority use and purchase rights of EUV lithography machines. The main reason why TSMC has become the world's largest chip foundry manufacturer is that it has 80 EUV lithography machines. It is no exaggeration to say that high-precision lithography machines produced by ASML can even change the direction of the semiconductor industry.
It is undeniable that The lithography machine manufacturing technology of the Netherlands ASML is very powerful, but they cannot complete the manufacturing process of the lithography machine alone. More than 90% of the parts required are purchased from outside.
Take EUV lithography machine as an example. A EUV lithography machine has as many as 100,000 parts, and needs to be provided by more than 5,000 suppliers worldwide. For example, the valve parts of the lithography machine come from France, the bearing comes from Swedish supplier, the light source technology comes from the United States, the lenses come from Germany, etc.
As the world's top lithography lens manufacturer, German Zeiss has naturally become the main supplier of ASML's lenses, no doubt. The reason is no different, because the optical system is the core component of the entire lithography machine, and the flatness of the lens directly affects the accuracy of the lithography machine. The only lens manufacturer that meets the requirements of EUV lithography machines is Zeiss, Germany.
It can be said that once Zeiss' top lenses are discontinued, ASML's EUV lithography machine will fall into paralysis, and its importance is self-evident.
In recent years, one of the main reasons why domestic lithography machines have been unable to achieve technological breakthroughs is that they cannot develop optical lenses comparable to those of Germany's Zeiss. Although , the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has launched the high-energy synchronous radiation light source , there is still a big gap compared to Zeiss lens.
Unexpectedly, on October 18, Germany's Zeiss held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project at , the Suzhou Industrial Park of , and is expected to be put into production in the first quarter of 2024. Does this mean that the core lenses of domestic lithography machines have made major breakthroughs? Is this really the case?
But in fact, the main purpose of Zeiss in Germany went to my country to build a factory this time is not to produce lenses of lithography machines, but to promote the localized production of high-end microscopes in China. To put it bluntly, it is the lens that produces microscopes.
According to Zeiss, they also plan to produce and develop industrial X-ray equipment at the Suzhou factory, which is mainly used in new energy vehicle batteries. Customers include CATL and other domestic automobile parts manufacturers.
No matter what, it is also good news for Zeiss, Germany, to build a factory in my country. At least our domestic related companies can learn from others' experience and technology. As the saying goes, "It's a great pleasure to have friends coming from afar." We welcome technology giants like Zeiss, Germany, to build factories in China. The more you have, the better.
As for whether Germany's Zeiss will bring lithography machine lens technology into domestic lithography machines in the future, it is unknown. But no matter what the result is, we should remember what Academician Ni Guangnan said: Key core technologies cannot be bought, and there is no shortcut to the rise of the domestic semiconductor industry. Only by "having food in your hands" can we no longer be controlled by others. What do you think about this? Everyone is welcome to leave a message, like and share.
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