China’s leading chip equipment manufacturer, SiCarrier, has just launched an impressive lineup of chip-making tools, aiming to elevate domestic semiconductor production significantly.
### SiCarrier: China’s Premier Chipmaking Tool Manufacturer Challenging Industry Giants Like ASML
China’s advancements in the semiconductor field have been nothing short of remarkable recently, fueled by the country’s strategic push against global technological dominance. Companies such as Huawei and SMIC have been instrumental in this journey, progressing China’s chip production capabilities. Yet, one pivotal player that doesn’t always get the spotlight is SiCarrier. Allegedly supported by Huawei, this company focuses on crafting chip-making equipment. At the SEMICON 2025 event in China, SiCarrier showcased its latest array of equipment, signaling a clear message: they’re in to win.
In the firm’s freshly rolled-out catalog, displayed at SEMICON and highlighted by Twitter user @zephyr_z9, SiCarrier presents an array of chip tools. This includes RTP systems that are crucial in semiconductor IC fabrication. The catalog boasts numerous other pieces, though notably, not in the lithography segment—perhaps a strategic move to keep some innovations under wraps. This new collection is part of SiCarrier’s strategy to rival industry heavyweights such as ASML, Applied Materials, and LAM Research. However, detailed assessments on their effectiveness in the local market remain pending.
During SEMICON, SiCarrier’s President Du Lijun remarked that their local chip-making tools can produce 5nm chips. However, due to relying on non-optical technologies, they face yield rate challenges, making their production costlier than international counterparts. Yet, collaboration with SMIC and Huawei is underway to tackle this issue. Achieving chip manufacturing independence is paramount for China, suggesting a significant breakthrough may not be far off.
> We might find a way by applying non-optical technologies—that is, leveraging our process equipment to address some lithography challenges.
> – Du Lijun via Reuters
SiCarrier’s main goal is to shift the semiconductor power balance away from nations like the Netherlands, which currently dominates chip-making tool supplies. Previously, it was reported that SiCarrier is collaborating with Huawei and the Shenzhen government to create custom EUV prototypes based on laser-induced discharge plasma (LDP). This would be a pivotal step toward China developing its EUV lithography equipment, potentially removing a substantial hurdle in the nation’s path to pioneering cutting-edge chip technology.
