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Is ASML having it all its own way? |
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Oct 12, 2005 at 07:11 PM |
ASML reported that its lithography tool market share would increase
this year to around 55 percent. A big part of the reason for this
centre's around its immersion tool strategy. Currently it is the only
lithography tool supplier to have shipped immersion tools, due to the
fact that its core TWINSCAN platform was ideal for the job, compared to
the tool platforms of its competitors Canon and Nikon.
Simply put, ASML had the opportunity to get pre-production tools out
into customers hands much quicker than its rivals. Currently, neither
Canon nor Nikon are ready to start shipping these tools, though Nikon
should start shipments early in 2006.
However, this has meant that ASML has not only gained leadership in
shipment terms of immersion tools but has also picked up new customers,
notably Japanese chip manufacturers, that have till now been loyal to
Canon and Nikon.
It is this fact that begins to undermine the reasoning of the Japanese
lithography suppliers to concentrate on only developing volume
manufacturing tools and not rushing out pre-production and R&D
tools the way ASML has done.
It is very interesting to note that ASML is now claiming it is entering
a second wave of immersion tool orders after shipping nine (9)
pre-production tools in the last 12 months.
The second wave of tools are for volume production with ten (10) orders
now placed and the company believes another twenty (20) plus orders
could be up for grabs in 2006.
At this pace Canon and Nikon have an order mountain to climb to gain
back lost market share. ASML would seem to be having it all its own way
right now and its competitors have yet to put their climbing boots on!
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