ASML Holding

Company Description

ASML is the world's only manufacturer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, the most advanced equipment used to produce computer chips. These machines allow chipmakers like TSMC, Samsung, and Intel to print circuits smaller than a virus onto silicon wafers, enabling the production of processors found in smartphones, laptops, data centers, and AI systems. The technology behind EUV lithography took decades to develop and costs over €150 million per machine. Each system is so complex it requires multiple shipping containers to transport and takes more than a year to install. ASML holds a complete monopoly on this technology—no other company in the world can make these machines. The company also produces deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography systems used for less advanced chips. Founded in 1984 as a joint venture between Philips and ASM International in Veldhoven, Netherlands, ASML grew from a small Dutch startup into Europe's most valuable technology company. Their equipment is essential for producing the chips that power artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and consumer electronics. Without ASML, the global semiconductor industry would be unable to advance to smaller, more powerful chip designs. The company employs over 44,000 people worldwide and controls approximately 83% of the global lithography market. ASML has become a focal point in US-China technology tensions, as export restrictions limit which countries can access their most advanced machines. Their next-generation High-NA EUV systems, priced at approximately €370 million each, represent the cutting edge of semiconductor manufacturing technology.