Canon attempts to challenge ASML’s dominance in chipmaking tools
Chipmaking tool manufacturers usually don’t attract much attention. However, Canon caught the eye of many investors on October 13th with the introduction of a new device. The Japanese company, known for its optical equipment, claims that its “nanoimprint” lithography machine can etch the tiniest transistors used in advanced microchips. Until now, ASML, a Dutch lithographic tool manufacturer, has been the sole provider of such capabilities. Canon aims to further encroach on ASML’s market by eventually producing two-nanometer chips.
The possibility of breaking ASML’s monopoly on cutting-edge chip supply chains is intriguing. ASML has long held the largest share in the concentrated semiconductor industry. The world’s three largest chip manufacturers—Intel, Samsung, and TSMC—rely entirely on ASML’s extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) technology to produce state-of-the-art microprocessors for smartphones and powerful data-center servers.
ASML’s EUV systems use high-powered lasers to imprint electrical blueprints onto circular silicon wafers. In contrast, Canon’s alternative directly imprints chip designs onto these wafers using a patterned mold. In theory, this allows for more intricate patterns. Additionally, because it involves fewer steps and eliminates the need for expensive lasers and ultra-smooth mirrors, it could be significantly cheaper than EUV lithography. ASML’s stock price dropped by over 2%, while Canon’s rose by nearly the same amount following the nanoimprint news.
2023-10-19 07:32:02
Post from www.economist.com
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