Last commentary had ASML and Nikon splitting critial layer business for 22nm at Intel.
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Intel litho strategy change could propel ASML, says report
Peter Clarke
(06/16/2010 8:01 AM EDT)
URL: eetimes.com
LONDON — Lithography equipment vendor ASML Holding NV could achieve 100 percent market share with Intel Corp. at the 22-nm/20-nm manufacturing process technology node, according to analysts at Nomura in London.
The comments came after a visit by analysts to ASML Holdings NV (Veldhoven, The Netherlands) in which they were told that Intel's traditional two-suppler lithography sourcing strategy may be under review.
Under that system Intel typically qualifies two suppliers of scanners and then ramps volume with mainly one supplier, while giving some orders to the number two. This serves to keep pricing keen as Intel is in a position to switch orders to the alternative supplier. However, that qualification process at the leading-edge is becoming too complex and costly and so could be abandoned, the analysts said in a note.
At 32-nm, ASML's rival Nikon won the entire "critical layer" business at Intel, while at the 22-NM it had been expected that ASML and Nikon will split the Intel business (see ASML, Nikon to split Intel lithography business, says analyst).
The ASML management said it is confident that for Intel's next generation process, ASML should have a substantially higher market share, with 50 percent being the minimum and 100 percent being a possibility, the Nomura analysts reported.
Samsung, Toshiba and TSMC are also expected to make key lithography sourcing decisions in 2010, which will set the lithography market landscape for the next 18 to 24 months, Nomura said. |
