A few days ago we presented data on the outcome of TSMC in the first quarter 2015. Briefly, we recall that the company has reduced revenue from the release of 20-nm-making by 4% (to 16%). TSMC also expect a decline in the second quarter total revenue - up to 10%. This deprives the company of funds for the modernization of production., Intel in the first quarter, too, decided to cut in 2015 the previously planned capital expenditures.
Savings in development, TSMC assurances representative , will not entail delayed modernization or slowing the development of new technological processes. The company report about a particular success for the implementation of the 16-nm FinFET process technology.
The company also admitted that the qualification for 7-nm production is expected in early 2017. Perhaps this is the first publicly TSMC announced plans to switch to process technology below 10nm. Part of the critical layers of the company expects to produce using EUV-equipment. Currently ASML pilot factory with a capacity of 80 watt emitters are capable of single daily operation with the processing 1000 plates. Multi-day cycle, unfortunately, can handle only a few hundred plates per day. Work EUV-scanners will be considered suitable for mass production only when a multi-day daily cycle will allow 24 hours to process more than 1,000 plates.