RBCT Chapter 1403 Current Situation
Chapter 1403 Current Situation
Chapter 1403 Current Situation
The storm is here.
The most direct reaction was that Fang Zhuo's meetings were often interrupted. The calls were like crackling raindrops coming straight at him. As soon as a call on one phone ended, another call came in from the secretary's phone. The two phones were silent, and Qiu Ciyu needed to answer the call again.
A meeting is often held in segments, and the messages from suppliers, partners, administrative leaders, etc. that come through mobile phones all demonstrate the severity of the storm.
From the 27th to the 1st, for three consecutive days, Fang Zhuo had figured out the trick. After all, meetings at night can be quieter.
However, despite the turbulent situation outside, as the most direct party involved, the top decision-makers of Bingxin were generally very calm. Qiu Ciyu, Hu Zhengming, Liang Mengsong and others had long been mentally prepared that sooner or later, they would inevitably have to face the element of geopolitics.
In other words, this element has always existed, but it has now become a powerful first priority.
"The current situation is actually relatively acceptable. What we need to worry about is the subsequent additional measures."
After the meeting ended, the two CEOs, the CTO and the chairman Fang Zhuo met again for a small meeting. Qiu Ciyu gave this interim judgment right away.
Fang Zhuo said "hmm" and confirmed: "There will definitely be additional people, and they are also observing the situation."
"16nm will be a competitive manufacturing process from this year to next year. Taiwan Semiconductor has not yet entered mass production of 16nm. Well, it may not be far away, but Samsung, UMC, and GlobalFoundries will have to wait. The subsequent 10nm will take time. No matter how early, it will have to be..." Qiu Ciyun calculated in his mind and said with certainty, "It will be 17."
2015年的Q1只剩下不到1个月的时间，全球拥有14/16nm产能的仍然只有冰芯与英特尔两家。
This year's advanced wafer manufacturing process is 14/16nm, and the FinFET introduced at this node has a lot of room for optimization. Next year will only see an increase in production capacity and optimization of the process.
According to Bingxin's original unaffected R&D progress, the earliest it could launch the more advanced 2017nm process would be in the first half of 10.
In other words, Bingxin's 16nm still has a very good shelf life of at least two years.
Fang Zhuo took a sip of tea and nodded slightly.
Liang Mengsong said at this time: "The good news is that even without EUV, we already have a solution to expand to 10nm using DUV. Intel's transition solution of DUV+SAQP is feasible. Although the method is complicated and the cost is high, it is a good choice for us within the technical and cost feasible range."
The solution of deep ultraviolet lithography plus self-aligned quadruple patterning technology comes from Intel's exploration of the limits of manufacturing processes. After communicating and cooperating with Intel on FinFET, Hu Zhengming and Liang Mengsong basically confirmed the feasibility.
He thought for a moment and added: “Considering Intel’s division of process nodes and the actual transistor density, I think 10nm is not the limit of the DUV+SAQP solution, and 7nm is also very feasible.”
Just like Intel's 14nm and IceCore's 16nm, both are at the same stage, but the former's transistor density is about 3750 million per square millimeter, while the latter's is 3000 million, and there is a 25% gap between the two processes.
At the same stage of nodes, Intel is indeed stronger. Therefore, the expansion of Intel's DUV+SAQP solution at 10nm may look forward to other manufacturers' 7nm, but this requires further research and optimization by Bingxin.
Fang Zhuo asked with concern: "Does Intel also use this solution for its own 10nm and 7nm?"
"It depends on what they mean..." Liang Mengsong didn't expect Mr. Fang to ask such a question. He paused to think and replied, "The reason why it is called a transitional solution is because the maturity of EUV needs to be solved. Intel's 10nm will probably use this, and 7nm should also introduce EUV."
Fang Zhuo made a "tsk" sound.
Hu Zhengming couldn't help but laugh and said, "EUV is still better, right, Mr. Fang? It's good enough if it can be used."
"Indeed, it's good enough if we can use it." Fang Zhuo said, "As far as the manufacturing process is concerned, our situation is not that bad."
Hu Zhengming pursed his lips: "Yes, this is what our Academician Liang worked so hard to get."
Because Bingxin has taken over the 16nm FinFET across generations, even if it encounters severe restrictions, it can now be relatively relaxed in terms of technology.
The industry's definition of advanced technology now uses 28nm as the dividing point. The processes before it are mature processes, and the processes after it are naturally advanced processes.
Not to mention the 16nm of Bingxin, which is the most advanced among the advanced.
Precisely because of this advanced nature, Bingxin has no shortage of orders. Even if it is entirely supplied to the domestic market, it can still fill up its production capacity. However, the upper limit has been weakened.
The rapid development of Ice Core in the past few years has benefited from the extensive cooperation in the global market and supply chain, which is a proven and effective system.
But in the future, this system will need to be verified again in China, because no one will stop and ice core research still needs to move forward.
"BIS restricts American companies' exports to us, which is fine. De-Americanization is what we have been doing. European and Japanese manufacturers can ensure their competitiveness. The problem lies in how the subsequent additional measures of BIS will expand the scope. Once comprehensive restrictions are imposed, it will be a very serious challenge. We need to ensure our minimum operation." Qiu Ciyu said seriously.
Fang Zhuo pondered and said, "Now it is Meilijian's export. In the future, Meilijian will definitely expand to a larger scale, and it will definitely include imports. I don't have any further news yet. If it really doesn't work, then I'll have to bear the pain for you, brother."
Once the restriction is expanded, the situation faced by the ice core will become very troublesome.
For example, ArF photoresist is one of the indispensable core materials for advanced process nodes, and Japanese companies monopolize more than 90% of the global market share.
More importantly, it is a precision chemical material that is sensitive to light and has a shelf life generally within six months, making it difficult to stockpile.
Once the supply of ice cores is cut off, production operations will be greatly affected.
"We are all from the same family, right?" Qiu Ciyun joked, "When necessary, we can dismantle the machines from our brothers and distribute the materials to get through the difficulties first."
Fang Zhuo nodded repeatedly, yes, yes.
Of course, this is mostly a joke. Bingxin is facing restrictions this time, and SMIC doesn’t know what will happen next. Its technology is not showing up now, but if the machine is disassembled and the materials are mixed, I’m afraid it will show up immediately.
"It still depends on whether we can solve some problems, and then everything will be fine slowly." Hu Zhengming said, "It depends on when the core material can make a breakthrough. The time for our process technology is left for everyone."
Today's situation was anticipated long ago, and issues in the upstream and downstream links have naturally been considered in detail. The Core Material Company is a technology subsidiary led by Bingxin, which cooperates with companies such as Nanjing University of Science and Technology Optoelectronics and Xinke Micromaterials to develop photoresists. It has received money from large and small funds and has made some progress.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Zhang. We will have to check on his inspection later." Qiu Ciyu said.
Zhang Rujing became Bingxin's consultant in a low-key manner. This time, facing Amei's strict selection, he also devoted himself to the inspection and integration of the industrial chain.
Qiu Ciyun added: "In any case, our technology is advanced and our inventory is sufficient for the time being. Although the supplier's technical support needs to be reorganized, Bingxin's combat effectiveness is still there. On the contrary... Mr. Fang, Yike's global market is larger."
Bingxin has anticipated today's situation and has been doing related work, including large and small funds, industrial integration, technical cooperation, and checking for deficiencies and filling gaps. Although it does face many problems, this time Amei's strict selection is a bit like a stress test, which will inevitably accelerate a series of work.
However, Yike, which fights side by side with Bingxin, may be under greater pressure due to its huge market and product performance.
"When a man dies, the birds fly up to the sky. If he lives forever, he will live forever." Fang Zhuo shrugged. "Big people have big ways to play, small people have small ways to play. Don't worry. If you can't be the world's Yike, then just be the Nokia of China."
(End of this chapter)