SiCarrier, China’s top manufacturer of chipmaking equipment, has launched an impressive array of tools poised to elevate the country’s semiconductor production capabilities.
In the rapidly evolving world of semiconductors, China has been striving to boost its own industries, seeking to counterbalance global market powers. Key players like Huawei and SMIC have made significant strides, focusing on homegrown manufacturing solutions. Yet, one company often flies under the radar: SiCarrier. Backed by Huawei, this firm specializes in crafting essential tools for chip fabrication. At the SEMICON 2025 event in China, SiCarrier showcased its latest tech lineup, clearly indicating that they’re not pulling any punches.
A tweet from @zephyr_z9 highlighted that SiCarrier has rolled out numerous innovations, particularly focusing on RTP systems crucial for semiconductor manufacturing. However, notably absent from the catalog are lithography tools, suggesting that SiCarrier might be playing its cards close to the vest in that area. Despite this, the ambitious suite of products is aimed at competitors like ASML and Applied Materials, though it’s still unclear how these tools will perform in the local market.
At SEMICON, SiCarrier’s President, Du Lijun, shared that their domestic tools have the potential to produce 5nm chips. Yet, the reliance on non-optical technology introduces challenges in yield rates, leading to higher costs compared to international counterparts. Nevertheless, SiCarrier is collaborating with SMIC and Huawei to overcome these hurdles. Achieving full chip production independence is critical for China, and many expect they’ll find a breakthrough soon.
Du Lijun hinted at possible solutions: “We might have a path using non-optical technologies to address some lithography challenges,” he stated to Reuters.
SiCarrier’s overarching goal is to shift the semiconductor industry’s balance of power away from countries like the Netherlands, a primary producer of chipmaking tools. Previously, it was reported that SiCarrier is joining forces with Huawei and the Shenzhen government to craft custom EUV prototypes utilizing laser-induced discharge plasma (LDP). This marks a pivotal step towards China developing its exclusive EUV lithography machines, potentially eliminating one of the last barriers to creating its advanced semiconductor nodes.
