The current state-of-the-art for chips is 5nm. Intel has announced that it has developed a 2nm chip due out sometime next year.
ASML can only build so many of the extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) photolithography machines. They are insanely expensive. How expensive you ask?
News blurb
AMSTERDAM, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Intel has placed the first order with ASML (ASML.AS) for a new, advanced chipmaking tool that will cost "significantly" more than $340 million, as semiconductor manufacturers look to get ahead in a booming industry.
Alongside better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings, ASML said on Wednesday it had received orders for five of its next- generation lithography machines, plus an order for an even newer model that is still being designed. read more
In a separate joint statement, the companies said Intel was the buyer.
ASML's most advanced machines in current commercial production, known as EUV lithography systems because of the "Extreme Ultraviolet" light waves they use to map out the circuitry of computer chips, are as big as a bus and cost around $150 million each. (The people to run these machines aren't cheap either and almost as rare. --LP)
A cutting-edge chip plant needs 9-18 of these machines, which are one of the biggest capital costs for chipmakers.
ASML is the only maker of such machines and its EUV customers include the world's biggest chipmakers, TSMC of Taiwan, Samsung (005930.KS) of South Korea and Intel, among others.
ASML said it has received orders for five prototypes of the next iteration of the system, known as "High NA" EUV machines, which will have a different optical system with a higher numerical aperture, will be even larger, and cost around $300 million each.
The first prototypes are to be shipped to customers for testing in 2023, CFO Roger Dassen said at a post-earnings press conference.
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