Huawei-linked firm reportedly developing alternative to ASML chip tools

SiCarrier, a Huawei-linked company, is reportedly developing alternatives to replace ASML chip tools in China. The company has quietly taken steps to reduce bottlenecks in the Chinese semiconductor industry and end its reliance on foreign rivals.

SiCarrier is currently installing chipmaking machines from tech giants like ASML, Applied Materials, and LAM Research.  It is also working on various equipment, including lithography, chemical vapor deposition, measurement, etching, and more.

All these segments are mainly dominated by foreign rivals from Japan, U.S., and the Netherlands. Looks like the company is trying to make strides in the chip race against its rivals by developing slightly improved chipset equipment.

NikkeiAsia reported that SiCarrier has been engaged with Huawei’s team of experts on chip production and chip equipment manufacturing for some time.

28nm process technology

The Chinese chipmaker said that it has crucial lithography chipmaking tools that can build 28nm or less advanced processors. These chips are termed mature technology, less advanced than 5nm/4nm processors from TSMC, Samsung, and Intel.

Still, these 28nm process chips are important as they are useful for smart cars, microcontrollers, and advanced robotics. A chip executive related to this matter said:

“They have started many projects across many different process steps in chipmaking, basically hoping to build all types of machines. They are working very closely with needs and requests from Huawei. Some projects involve hundreds of workers, while others involve thousands of engineers.”

Huawei-linked firm reportedly developing alternative to ASML chip tools (Image Credits: Huawei)

Another familiar person said that being a young company, SiCarrier has shown significant growth in recent years. It formed a big team of experienced talent from the industry, regardless of tougher US export controls.

While the 28nm process chipset segment is primarily ruled by firms like ASML, Nikon, and Canon at present, the company is trying to gain a foothold in it.

Inputs reveal that the Shenzhen government is supporting SiCarrier to induce its operations. On the other hand, Huawei is also closely working with the firm to boost the engineering expertise and overcome chip production challenges.

SiCarrier is still away from the mass production of wafers on its new chip tool. The company has to produce these wafers on a larger scale as the DUV machine consumes time and money, resulting in a huge amount of defective wafers.

However, the current move suggests that Huawei and SiCarrier are working to ditch ASML chip tools and develop better chipset manufacturing equipment in the future.