73. Chapter 73 Countermeasures (Subscription Request)
Chapter 73 Countermeasures (Subscription Request)
Speaking of the semiconductor industry, the island country is definitely a key role that cannot be avoided.
Since the 1960s and 1970s, relying on the financial support of their biological father, Old M, the little notebooks have vigorously developed the semiconductor industry. At their peak, they even surpassed their biological father and occupied half of the global semiconductor market. It is really intolerable, but the father cannot.
Seeing that his son had climbed over his head, Old M directly summoned all his younger brothers and signed the Plaza Accord, the Semiconductor Security Agreement and other agreements, directly dividing the semiconductor industry of the little notebook into four parts.
Among them, the design returned to Old M, the foundry was given to Treasure Island, the most advanced equipment was in Windmill Country, and China was responsible for assembly.
The shivering little notebook found that he only had a few small pieces of cake left, such as photoresist, substrate insulation materials, and some manufacturing equipment…
However, a skinny camel is bigger than a horse after all.
The island country, which was dismembered, still provides 50% of semiconductor materials and 30% of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to the world.
And Shin-Etsu Chemical is one of the important characters that survived this division.
Whether before or after the division, Shin-Etsu Chemical has always been in the leading position in the world in the fields of photolithography materials, substrate insulation materials, and silicon wafer manufacturing equipment.
They haven’t looked up at the stars for a long time and experienced the pain of being out of reach.
The pictures taken by the news were very clear. After Kang Chi’s permission, the photographer even boldly took a close-up shot of the heating rod working, which highlighted one word:
Arrogant!
However, this time, China seems to have the capital to be arrogant…
The engineers of Shin-Etsu Chemical stared for a long time, but they couldn’t figure out what was going on. It seemed that there was no difference between this and the floating ribbon single crystal furnace they were developing. Why did the silicon crystal solution flow everywhere uncontrollably when they melted it?
They even caused several experimental accidents because of this…
Although they were reluctant to admit it, the news footage in front of them forced them to admit that they had indeed lost to China in the field of floating ribbon method! “The floating ribbon method has another feature, that is, through repeated melting, the silicon rod can reach a 100% yield rate.”
Kang Chi in the camera continued to explain the advantages of the floating ribbon single crystal furnace to the audience.
“For example, in quality inspection, if we find that the purity of silicon rods does not meet the standards, we only need to analyze the main components of impurities and then do a targeted purification. This process usually takes only ten minutes.”
”In traditional Czochralski single crystal furnaces, once defective products appear, the entire rod can only be re-melted and remade, which takes eight hours!”
”Baga!”
Looking at the Chinese man’s excited explanation on the screen, Nohara Takehiro finally couldn’t help it and turned off the projector directly.
Everyone in the meeting room straightened their backs and focused their eyes on the chairman of the group.
“Mr. Fukuhara, you are the head of the silicon wafer department, tell me what you think.”
Fukuhara Yuji hurriedly stood up, bowed to everyone, and then said: “From the news just now, I think this single crystal furnace should be real… But whether the silicon rods made by this method are up to standard and whether they can be competent for chip manufacturing may need further observation.”
”Observe?” Nohara Takehiro snorted coldly, “What if it is unqualified?!”
”I have given you so much money to develop the floating belt method over the years, but you can’t even make a substandard silicon rod!”
”If you continue to observe, our big island country will not even be able to keep the last piece of land in the semiconductor industry!”
Fukuhara Yuji lowered his head after being scolded and said nothing.
In fact, everyone present knew that what Fukuhara Yuji said just now was actually to comfort everyone.
With the scale of the silicon wafer market, China does not need to use the credibility of authoritative media such as China News and China Daily to release such low-level smoke bombs…
Nohara Takehiro leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and exhaled deeply.
When he opened his eyes again, his expression had returned to normal.
”Dr. Nitta, do the images just now inspire your research?” Hisuke Nitta, who was called by name, stood up quickly and shook his head.
If you can get inspiration through videos,Then all countries in the world will build nuclear-powered aircraft carriers…
Nitta Hirosuke complained silently in his heart, and then said:
”Although we can’t tell what technology they used through the video, at least they helped us verify that the floating belt method is a completely feasible and advantageous technical route. I think the company can continue to increase its research investment in the floating belt method.”
Nohara Takehiro nodded: “Then from today, stop all R&D and improvement projects of the Czochralski single crystal furnace, and concentrate on conquering the floating belt single crystal furnace!”
”Ah?”
”Isn’t this a bit too hasty?”
The writers present were a little surprised.
However, after a little calm thinking, they knew that Nohara Takehiro was actually right.
They, Shin-Etsu Chemical, are still in the leading position in the world in the Czochralski method, and temporarily stopping the exploration of the Czochralski method will not have any impact.
Moreover, the C-pulling method is already a relatively mature technology. At this time, every step forward requires a considerable price. It is better to put time and energy on the floating belt method that has been proven feasible in China.
It is irrational not to change the direction at this time and stick to the technology that is destined to be eliminated.
This is the truth,
But it takes a lot of courage for Nohara Takehiro to accept that the technology he has painstakingly studied for many years is about to be eliminated in such a short time, and then make such a major decision to change the direction.
“In fact, we don’t need to panic because of a single crystal furnace.”
Nohara Takehiro, who has completely calmed down, analyzed,
”The single crystal furnace is surpassed, anyway, it is just one part of the silicon wafer manufacturing. Even if they can make more single crystal furnaces, the subsequent chamfering, cutting, and grinding equipment still have to rely on us?”
”If we don’t sell them these processing equipment, the silicon rods they produce will be a pile of broken copper and iron, and they can’t become silicon wafers at all!”
After listening to Yuanye Takehiro’s analysis, the others gradually calmed down.
”Yes, it’s just a single crystal furnace. Anyway, they all make 12-inch silicon rods, but theirs is more advanced.”
”Director Yuanye is still broad-minded. In this way, the situation is far less serious than we imagined.”
”Well, but we still can’t underestimate the enemy. We have to think about the countermeasures we should have.”
So soon, they discussed a series of countermeasures.
First, make every effort to conquer the floating belt technology. Second, dispose of the Czochralski single crystal furnace in stock as soon as possible. Third, stop selling all silicon wafer manufacturing and processing equipment to China. Fourth, find a way to buy a floating belt single crystal furnace from Dahan Silicon Industry to conduct reverse research.
Fifth, join hands with Goldman Sachs to reduce the price of silicon wafers, increase the export volume of silicon wafers to China, and hit their enthusiasm for the research and development of silicon wafer manufacturing equipment.
Among these countermeasures, the fifth one can be said to be the most ruthless!
Originally, most of China’s silicon wafer factories have been in a loss-making state of working for the island country, and they can only survive with the help of policies.
If Shin-Etsu Chemical really engages in silicon wafer dumping, I don’t know how many Chinese silicon wafer factories will go bankrupt.
And the closure of silicon wafer factories will inevitably put the research and development companies and institutions of silicon wafer manufacturing equipment into a dilemma of no one paying the bill, thus stopping the research and development plan…
This is a vicious cycle for market economies.
Fortunately, China is not a country dominated by the market economy, so the lethality of this move must be reduced by at least 50%.
Because the more this is the case, the greater the policy support will be! Fourth update, 2+2 is finished, the rest depends on whether the first order data is strong~ (End of this chapter)