The continued demand for smaller, more powerful, and more energy efficient semiconductor devices has spurred the growth in demand for advanced lithography devices. As semiconductor technology evolves, manufacturers need to be able to produce devices with smaller feature sizes and higher resolutions.
The expansion of cloud computing and data centers is increasing the demand for high-performance processors and memory chips. The increasing use of electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, Internet of Things devices and automotive electronics is driving the market demand for lithography devices.
The development and commercialization of emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and autonomous driving will require specialized semiconductor devices. Its development and commercialization are predicated on the existence of sufficiently advanced lithography equipment to manufacture these advanced components. As a result, the expanding range of industries and fields involved in lithography equipment will continue to drive the market in the coming years.
Governments and industry groups invest in R&D and manufacturing infrastructure to promote semiconductor manufacturing in a region. These strategies can boost markets. In addition, continuous innovation and upgrades in the field of consumer electronics have prompted semiconductor manufacturers to invest in cutting-edge lithographic equipment products such as OLED displays, and high-performance processors are critical in this context. Such innovations and increased investment in the development of advanced semiconductor products are expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period.
The competitive landscape of the market in 2022 is characterized by the emergence of major industry leaders and significant influence on the market. These leading companies include ASML, Shanghai Nikon Precision Machinery Co., LTD., Canon Optical Instruments (Shanghai) Co., LTD., Veeco Instruments Inc., Conax Technologies, TSMC, etc. These companies have a large market share, enough to reflect the market position and industry position.
In order to meet the manufacturing needs under different industries, companies are pursuing business growth through strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, building new manufacturing facilities and geographical expansion. For example, in 2022, ASML Holding NV achieved an important milestone with the launch of the innovative multi-beam wafer inspection system HMI eScan 1100. This cutting-edge technology is the first implementation of such a system and is tailored for online applications focused on improving performance, including tasks such as voltage contrast defect inspection and physical defect inspection. On October 13 this year, Japan Canon announced the launch of FPA-1200NZ2C nanoimprint semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Nanoimprint equipment is regarded by many Japanese semiconductor equipment manufacturers as the "next generation equipment" to replace the lithography machine, and it is responsible for the mission of making cutting-edge micro-circuits at a low cost.
Summary of report highlights:
- In the process segment, the ultraviolet (UV) process segment has a revenue share of 46.5% in 2022. Compared with the traditional semiconductor manufacturing process, UV lithography is more cost-effective. EUV lithography equipment and materials can be expensive, making UV lithography an attractive option for cost-conscious manufacturers.
- In the field of light sources, the revenue share of the mercury lamp segment is 29.4% in 2022. In lithography equipment, the optical system is equipped with a mercury lamp. The light they provide passes through a photomask and is focused onto a silicon wafer coated with a photoresist.
In terms of wavelength, the revenue share of the 70nm-1nm wavelength segment will be 15.2% in 2022. This special wavelength has a wide range of applications in negative AND and NAND logic gates, as well as in DRAM manufacturing. This allows semiconductor manufacturers to efficiently manufacture memory chips while reducing manufacturing costs.
In terms of end users, the Integrated Equipment manufacturer (IDM) segment will have a revenue share of 56.8% in 2022. The main driver of IDM end-use is the constant pursuit of technological advancement and innovation in semiconductor manufacturing.
