TSMC lining up more suppliers for 7nm equipment

DigiTimes heard TSMC is adding more 7nm equipment suppliers to its list:

Applied Materials, Lam Research, Tokyo Electron, Hitachi High Technologies and Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (AMEC) are all being included in TSMC's supplier list for its 7nm process, the sources indicated. Of the companies, Tokyo Electron and Lam are expected to receive most demand from TSMC, the sources said.

AMEC is the only China-based fab toolmaker selected by TSMC for the foundry's 7nm process. AMEC will be the major etching equipment supplier of the foundry looking to ramp up production of 7nm chips in 2018, the sources noted.

TSMC expects it will be able to roll out 7nm for volume production in 2018. A second-generation 7nm process that uses extreme ultraviolet (EUV) is expected to follow in 2109. The first-generation 7nm node from TSMC is codenamed N7 and industry sources claim the Taiwanese foundry is confident about its performance.

Rival Samsung plans to roll out its first-generation 7nm node in 2018, this process will use EUV from the start. GlobalFoundries also intends to offer 7nm volume production in 2018 and is anticipated to offer 7nm with EUV in the 2019-2020 timeframe.