China’s SiCarrier Shocks Chip Industry with Broad Chip Equipment Launch at SEMICON 2025, Challenging ASML’s Dominance

China’s leading chip equipment manufacturer, SiCarrier, has recently introduced a comprehensive array of tools meant to advance domestic semiconductor fabrication.

China’s SiCarrier Leads in Chipmaking Tools, Challenging Giants Like ASML

China has been making significant strides in the semiconductor arena, fueled by its resolve to diminish foreign dominance. While companies such as Huawei and SMIC have been pivotal in building China’s chip production capabilities, SiCarrier, a company reportedly backed by Huawei and specializing in chipmaking equipment, often flies under the radar. At SEMICON 2025 in China, SiCarrier showcased their latest collection of equipment, signaling a strong desire to compete on the global stage.

Illustrating their commitment, SiCarrier’s new offerings were publicized through @zephyr_z9 on Twitter, detailing innovations like their RTP (Rapid Thermal Processing) systems crucial for semiconductor manufacturing. Although their portfolio includes an array of other essential tools, lithography equipment remains notably absent, perhaps indicating strategic discretion. Their new lineup poses a potential challenge to established giants like ASML, LAM, and Applied Materials, although the impact of these tools on the Chinese market remains to be fully evaluated.

Image Credits: SCMP

During SEMICON, SiCarrier’s President, Du Lijun, announced that their domestic tools could produce 5nm chips. However, relying on non-optical technology poses challenges with production yields, leading to potentially higher costs than international competitors. Together with Huawei and SMIC, SiCarrier is actively seeking solutions, and given the strategic importance of semiconductor independence for China, a breakthrough could be imminent.

Du Lijun expressed optimism about overcoming these hurdles, stating, "There might be a path where we can use non-optical technologies, that is, using our process equipment to solve some of the lithography issues."

SiCarrier aims to shift the semiconductor landscape away from traditional hubs like the Netherlands, a primary source for chip tools. Previously, it was reported that SiCarrier was collaborating with Huawei and the Shenzhen government to create custom EUV prototypes centered around laser-induced discharge plasma (LDP). This initiative represents a critical first step towards China developing its own EUV lithography capabilities, which could potentially remove the last obstacle preventing the nation from crafting its most advanced semiconductor nodes.