Jakarta, INTI - China has begun producing domestically developed deep ultraviolet (DUV) immersion lithography machines.
The Information reported on Tuesday, July 28, that the production of this type of chip-making machine has been dominated by Dutch technology company ASML.
According to several sources, the DUV lithography machines will be delivered to leading Chinese chipmakers as early as this year.
Chinese chipmakers that will receive the machines include Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., Hua Hong Semiconductor, and ChangXin Memory Technologies.
Production will be Limited
Production of these DUV machines will be limited initially, with approximately 5 units this year and approximately 20 units by 2027. The sources declined to identify the company behind the DUV machines due to the sensitivity of the issue. This report caused ASML shares to drop significantly. Other related stocks also experienced similar losses.
However, according to the sources, the quality of Chinese-made machines still lags behind ASML's products. The Dutch company also continues to dominate the production of more advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines.
Immersion DUV machines, which print circuit patterns onto silicon wafers, are the most advanced lithography tools available to Chinese chipmakers after industries in the West stopped exporting EUV lithography systems.
China is also developing a domestic EUV machine, though it is still in the prototype stage.
Conclusion
China has begun producing domestically manufactured deep ultraviolet (DUV) immersion lithography machines. The machines are scheduled to begin shipping to major Chinese chipmakers, including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), Hua Hong Semiconductor, and ChangXin Memory Technologies, with initial production limited.
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