The car giant started by marrying the daughter of the king

"Schmidt, I got a message that Nanshan Equipment in China has successfully developed a 3-micron process lithography machine."

"The lithography machine used in Lingnan Semiconductor's latest factory was provided by Nanshan Equipment."

As the sales director of ASML, Christoph came to President Schmidt's office with a serious face and reported the bad news.

As manufacturers of lithography machines, there are actually not many similar players in the world.

This market is big and small at the same time.

ASML has finally emerged as a lithography machine manufacturer on par with Canon and Nikon, so naturally it does not want any new competitors to emerge.

This will make them feel a huge threat.

"Lingnan Semiconductor's new factory will no longer purchase lithography machines from us?"

"What's the situation with that Nanshan device?"

Schmidt frowned and looked very unhappy.

TSMC, Samsung Electronics and Lingnan Semiconductor are currently ASML's main customers in Asia.

There are many semiconductor manufacturers in Japan, but they basically use Nikon or Canon's lithography machines.

It is extremely difficult for ASML to enter the Japanese market.

As for the American market, it is currently shared by several equipment manufacturers, and a relatively stable pattern has basically been formed.

Now suddenly an important customer is gone and a competitor is gained, which must be difficult to accept.

"Nanshan Equipment and Lingnan Semiconductor actually have the same shareholder, the company behind the only Chinese couple on the Forbes rich list."

“It can be understood that Lingnan Semiconductor is looking for manufacturers within the group to produce lithography machines on its own.”

After Christophe said this, Schmidt's face became even uglier.

This is worse than the worst case scenario.

There is no chance to win back such customers.

No, that's not the case.

“As a brand-new lithography machine manufacturer, even if Nanshan Equipment can produce lithography machines, their technical level must not be good enough, right?”

"If Lingnan Semiconductor wants to maintain its technological leadership, it cannot continue to purchase outdated lithography machines."

Schmidt doesn't believe that a new equipment manufacturer can catch up with his own technology level right away.

This is simply unrealistic.

"We know that they can produce 3-micron process lithography machines."

"But Lingnan Semiconductor previously purchased 3-micron and 1.5-micron process lithography machines from us."

"Nanshan Equipment has now achieved a breakthrough in 3-micron process technology, and it is estimated that it will soon be able to achieve a breakthrough in 1.5-micron process technology."

"As for more advanced products, they probably won't be able to do it in the short term."

After hearing what Christophe said, Schmidt felt a little relieved.

If it is just a 3-micron process lithography machine, the situation is not so serious.

They are already mass-producing lithography machines that can process 0.5mm process chips.

Even more technologically advanced lithography machines are already under development.

ASML of this era is still very motivated.

In the industry, there are two giants, Nikon and Canon, towering over him.

Now ASML has taken a unique approach and developed its own technological route, slowly catching up with the giants.

The next step is to completely overtake others and become the world's leading lithography machine manufacturer.

In order to achieve this goal, people within ASML are also working very hard.

Unlike later generations, engineers are very lazy.

A project has been going on for several years with no results.

"Try to find out more about the situation at Nanshan Equipment."

"Then we'll also take a look at Lingnan Semiconductor's development strategy."

Only after understanding the situation clearly can we make further response plans.

Schmidt is not in a hurry to make any decision for the time being.

"TSMC has also been actively communicating with us these days, and they suggest that we ban Lingnan Semiconductor in the future."

“We will not sell any advanced lithography machines to Lingnan Semiconductor.”

“They even suspected that the 3-micron process lithography machine developed by Nanshan Equipment was copied from our product.”

Christopher obviously didn't intend to let Nanshan Equipment go.

This potential competitor must be killed.

"Do you think this possibility is high?"

At this time, Schmidt also realized that the situation seemed a little different.

If Nanshan Equipment really plagiarized its own products, it must take some action as soon as possible.

“Although there is no evidence, Nanshan Equipment has never developed a lithography machine before.”

"China's photolithography equipment is also very backward."

"The only thing they can learn from is the lithography equipment they purchased from us."

"So I guess the lithography machine for the 3-micron chip produced by the other party must have borrowed from our design."

Now that Christophe has said so, Schmidt certainly cannot remain silent.

"Then let our legal department take action, collect information as quickly as possible, and bring Nanshan Equipment to court!"

Striking potential competitors is something that all manufacturers take seriously.

Schmidt plans to start with Nanshan Equipment.

……

"Sano, please take some time to investigate the latest situation of Huaxia Lingnan Semiconductor and see how far they have developed now."

As the head of Hitachi's semiconductor business unit, Taro Koike has also felt the pressure in recent years.

The United States is making every effort to crack down on Japan's semiconductor industry, fearing that it will be surpassed by Japanese companies in this key field.

As a giant among Japanese semiconductor companies, Hitachi Semiconductor is naturally a key target.

Now there are competitors catching up in Korea and China, so naturally he has to pay attention to them.

"The newly invested factory of Lingnan Semiconductor not only failed to improve the chip manufacturing process, but also regressed to the 3-micron process technology."

"I don't think they will pose any threat to us."

Sano Miki was obviously well-informed.

He can quickly receive news if any semiconductor manufacturer around the world invests in a new factory.

After all, this circle is too small.

"Although Lingnan Semiconductor's new factory does not adopt more advanced technology, they have made great breakthroughs in equipment."

"I had dinner with Canon people yesterday and learned that the lithography machines used by Lingnan Semiconductor in its new factory were produced by the group's own manufacturers."

"This is a very dangerous signal."

After hearing what Koike Taro said, Sano Miki's contemptuous attitude was immediately put aside.

Hitachi Group itself is a giant, and it also develops and produces a lot of various equipment.

This kind of manufacturer that is willing to produce even key equipment by itself is definitely not the kind of manufacturer that has no expectations for the industry. It is obvious that Lingnan Semiconductor is preparing to make a big splash in the semiconductor industry in the future.

Then this situation is worth your attention.

"President, I am on a business trip to China specifically to investigate the latest situation of Lingnan Semiconductor."

"Then as for Nanshan Equipment, I will also see if I can contact them in the name of equipment procurement."

"The other party has developed a photolithography machine, and they must be very eager to export it overseas."

People who work in sales are very good at understanding people's minds.

Sano Miki is still quite confident about investigating the situation of Nanshan Equipment's lithography machines.

The same scenario is happening at Japanese manufacturers such as NEC and Mitsubishi Semiconductor.

Because TSMC took the initiative to tell Canon and Nikon its "guesswork".

Canon and Nikon are the main equipment suppliers for Japanese semiconductor manufacturers.

If they knew the latest situation of Nanshan Equipment and Lingnan Semiconductor, it meant that the semiconductor manufacturers in Japan also knew it.

These factories certainly cannot accept the emergence of a giant in China that can produce its own lithography machines and continue to invest in new factories.

……

"Mr. Liu, the technology of the newly invested chip factory by Lingnan Semiconductor has not only not improved, but has regressed."

"This is very detrimental to the next development of our company."

As the chief engineer of Zhujiang Technology, Zhu Yifan is very concerned about the development of the domestic and global semiconductor industry.

Whether it is the computers or mobile phones they produce, they all require various chips.

Especially for computers, the CPU used on them basically represents the advancement of global semiconductor technology.

As a newly established company, Zhujiang Technology naturally hopes that its products will take the lead in the industry as soon as they are released.

Zhu Yifan knows the company's development strategy.

The initial CPUs were purchased from Intel, and other chips were produced by ourselves as much as possible.

All subsequent chips will be designed and produced by ourselves.

This means that Lingnan Semiconductor must be able to provide sufficiently advanced products to ensure the competitiveness of Zhujiang Technology's products.

That's why he was disappointed with Lingnan Semiconductor's actions.

"It won't have much impact on us in the short term, after all, the CPUs we use now are purchased from Intel."

"As for the situation later, I believe Mr. Jiang has definitely considered it."

“Lingnan Semiconductor cannot always invest in new factories with 3-micron process technology.”

Liu Donghui was a little confused as to why Lingnan Semiconductor already had 3-micron and 1.5-micron process production lines.

The new factory we are investing in now uses a 3-micron process.

But he was still quite confident in Jiang Hui's layout.

After staying in Shenzhen for two or three years, he has a more direct understanding of Jiang Hui's influence and vision.

"I am worried that Lenovo and Great Wall will be able to purchase advanced chips from abroad at any time, while we will have to use our own chips in the future."

"If Lingnan Semiconductor's technology is not advanced enough, it means our products will not be competitive."

“The ultimate impact is huge.”

Zhu Yifan's worry is obviously not without reason.

But this will definitely not happen so quickly.

"Let's see what happens first. At worst, we can propose to President Jiang that we use our own CPU later."

Liu Donghui thought he should wait and see for a while.

There's no rush to make a decision now.

……

"Boss Jiang, many more companies have come to visit our Nanshan equipment recently."

"Even many overseas semiconductor companies have taken the initiative to contact us."

"I feel that these people's intentions may not be very pure. Some of them are trying to get our information."

Lin Qiaosheng has been in a very good mood recently.

However, he did not get carried away. Instead, he realized some problems and quickly reported them to Jiang Hui.

"You have developed a 3-micron lithography machine. This news cannot be concealed."

"If you can give a warm reception to domestic semiconductor manufacturers, they will probably make a certain contribution to the increase in sales of lithography machines."

"As for international semiconductor companies, their attitude should also be enthusiastic."

"But you also have to assess the other person's true thoughts."

"If someone is obviously here to gather information, then you definitely can't tell them everything."

"As for the possibility of future cooperation, we can communicate more appropriately."

Since you are opening a business, it is definitely not appropriate to reject customers directly.

Even these customers may not actually purchase Nanshan Equipment's products.

Jiang Hui naturally has this awareness.

"Yeah, that's what I thought too."

"But with so many customers contacting me so quickly, I always feel that there may be some other stories behind this."

"Especially since even TSMC and Samsung Electronics have arranged people to contact us, I feel like something is amiss."

After Lin Qiaosheng said this, Jiang Hui naturally realized the weirdness of it.

Especially TSMC, which is a direct competitor of Lingnan Semiconductor.

The other party should be very ruthless to Lingnan Semiconductor.

How is it possible to go to Nanshan Equipment to purchase lithography machines?
"As for TSMC and Samsung Electronics, you can find a reason to refuse them when the time comes."

"If the other party is very persistent, then approach them in the company's conference room, and don't take them to visit the lithography machine factory."

Combining some situations in later generations, Jiang Hui quickly gave his own opinion.

TSMC and Samsung will become shareholders of ASML in the future and turn to ASML's lithography machines.

Even if this incident had not happened, it would be impossible for these two manufacturers to use Nanshan Equipment's products in the next ten years.

Jiang Hui does have this self-awareness.

"No problem, I'll do it right away."

"I also think that TSMC and Samsung Electronics have bad intentions."

"I'm afraid Hitachi Semiconductor and Mitsubishi Semiconductor also came here with other purposes."

After receiving Jiang Hui's clear instructions, Lin Qiaosheng naturally stopped worrying.

Just follow this idea to respond to the contact needs of various customers.

This doesn't bother him.

As the largest equipment manufacturer in China, Nanshan Equipment has customers visiting or touring its production lines almost every day.

There are definitely some customers with better intentions.

In this regard, they are quite experienced. (End of this chapter)