LOOKING AHEAD: ASML builds the most complex and advanced chipmaking machines available today, and is Europe's largest technology company in terms of market cap. The Dutch corporation still needs to sell its uber-expensive machines to foundry ventures, which is why is it is now praising the unprecedented capabilities of its latest photolithography machines.
ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet recently confirmed that the first silicon products manufactured with the company's latest chipmaking machines will be delivered to customers over the next few months. Fouquet added that these massive devices are very expensive but pay off on long-term manufacturing efforts. The executive attended a conference held by research company Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre in Antwerp, Belgium.
Fouquet stated that "in the next few months, we will be looking at the first few products, in memory, in logic, being exposed on the High-NA system."
High-NA EUV tools are photolithography machines based on extreme ultraviolet lithography. They are equipped with High Numerical Aperture scanners that can produce next-generation chips with smaller features, enabling more densely packed transistor designs.
"World-class foundries should simply buy more ASML scanners" says Christophe Fouquet, ASML CEO.
