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ASML Holding

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ASML Holding N.V.
Company typeNaamloze vennootschap
Euronext: ASML, Nasdaq: ASML
IndustrySemiconductor industry
Founded1984
HeadquartersVeldhoven, Netherlands
Key people
Eric Meurice (CEO), Peter Wennink (CFO), Arthur van der Poel (Chairman of the supervisory board)
ProductsPhotolithography systems for the semiconductor industry
Revenue€4.508 billion (2010)[1]
€1.251 billion (2010)[1]
€1.022 billion (2010)[1]
Total assets€6.180 billion (end 2010)[1]
Total equity€2.774 billion (end 2010)[1]
Number of employees
9,245 (FTE, end 2010)[1]
Websitehttp://asml.com

ASML is a Dutch company and currently the largest supplier in the world of photolithography systems for the semiconductor industry. The company manufactures machines for the production of integrated circuits (ICs), such as DRAM memory, flash memory, and CPUs.

Products

ASML’s corporate headquarters in Veldhoven

The photolithography machines manufactured by ASML are used in the production of computer chips. In these machines, patterns are optically imaged onto a silicon wafer that is covered with a film of light-sensitive material (photoresist). This procedure is repeated dozens of times on a single wafer. The photoresist is then further processed to create the actual electronic circuits on the silicon. The optical imaging, that ASML's machines deal with, is used in the fabrication of nearly all integrated circuits, and as of 2010, ASML has 67 percent of the worldwide sales of lithography machines,[2] with the competition consisting of Ultratech, Canon and Nikon.

Immersion lithography

As of 2011, their high-end Twinscan NXT:1950i system is used for producing features down to 32 nanometres (and outlook for 22 nm) at up to 200 wafers per hour,[3] using a water immersion lens and an argon fluoride laser that produces light at a wavelength of 193 nm. As of 2011, an average lithography machine costs 27 million euros.[4]

EUV lithography

ASML also manufactures extreme ultraviolet lithography machines that use 13.5 nm wavelength light. High-energy laser turns microscopic droplets of molten tin into a plasma which emits EUV light. On 22 April 2009, the Belgian research center Imec presented the world’s first functional 22 nm CMOS SRAM memory cells made using ASML's prototype EUV lithography machine.[5] As of 2011, the first series-produced (non-prototype) EUV machines are being shipped to customers.[4]

Other

In addition to immersion-based lithography and EUV lithography, ASML has a substantial IP portfolio covering imprint lithography.[6]

Company

ASML’s corporate headquarters is in Veldhoven, Netherlands. It is also the location for research, development, manufacturing and assembly. ASML has a worldwide customer base and over sixty service points in sixteen countries. The company is listed on both the AEX and NASDAQ Stock Exchanges, as ASML.

The company (originally named ASM Lithography)[7] was founded in 1984 as a joint venture between the Dutch companies Advanced Semiconductor Materials International (ASMI) and Philips. Nowadays it is a public company with only a minority of the shares owned by Philips.[8] When the company became independent in 1988, it was decided that changing the name was not desirable. The name ASML was continued to be used, however the acronym officially does not mean anything.

ASML is subject to cyclical industrial dynamics. For example, at the end of 2008, ASML experienced a large drop in sales, which led management to cut the workforce by about 1000 worldwide—mostly contract workers[9] -- and to apply for support from the Dutch national unemployment fund to prevent even larger layoffs .[10] Two and a half years later, ASML expected a record-high revenue.[11]

In July 2012, Intel announced a deal to invest $4.1 billion into ASML in exchange for 15% ownership, in order to speed up the transition from 300 mm to 450 mm wafers and further development of EUV lithography.[12][13] This deal is without exclusive rights to future ASML products and, as of July 2012, ASML is offering another 10% of the shares to other companies.[14] As part of their EUV strategy, ASML announced the acquisition of DUV and EUV sources manufacturer Cymer in October 2012.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Annual Report 2010" (PDF). ASML. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  2. ^ ASML: Sustainability - performance and targets. ASML.com (2011)
  3. ^ ASML Enhances NXT:1950i to Meet Challenging Imaging and Overlay Requirements and Provide a Cost Effective Platform for 22nm. Press release, 12 July 2011.
  4. ^ a b Third quarter 2011 results. ASML press release.
  5. ^ IMEC presents functional 22 nm SRAM cells fabricated using EUV technology. IMEC press release, 22 April 2009.
  6. ^ For example, U. S. Patents 7618250, 7692771 and U. S. Patent Applications 20070018360, 20100193994.
  7. ^ "About ASML: Questions and Answers". ASML Holding. Archived from the original on 28 July 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ ASML corporate history
  9. ^ ASML Takes Action to Adjust Its Organization Due to Severe Order Slowdown Press release.
  10. ^ Chip-Equipment Firm ASML Cuts Outlook, Sets Layoffs. WSJ.com, 19 December 2008.
  11. ^ ASML Sees Record Year. Wall Street Journal, April 2011.
  12. ^ ASML wins funds for chip technology from Intel. Reuters, 10 July 2012.
  13. ^ ASML Announces Customer Co-Investment Program Aimed at Accelerating Innovation. ASML Press release, 9 July 2012.
  14. ^ "Intel funds next-gen chipmaking, buys into ASML for $4.1 billion". 9 July 2012.
  15. ^ [1] ASML Press release, October 17, 2012

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