Articles tagged with "semiconductor-manufacturing"
China tightens export controls on rare earth minerals once again
China has tightened its export controls on rare earth minerals and related mining and refining technologies, adding five more rare earth elements to its export control list, bringing the total to 12. The Commerce Ministry announced that foreign producers must now apply for export licenses if their products contain any Chinese-origin rare earth minerals or related technology. Defense organizations will be denied licenses, while semiconductor manufacturers will undergo individual reviews. Exemptions are made for exports intended for humanitarian aid, such as public health emergencies and disaster relief. As the world’s largest producer of rare earth minerals, China is leveraging these controls to safeguard national security amid increasing global competition in semiconductor manufacturing. This move mirrors recent U.S. export restrictions on chipmaking equipment aimed at limiting China’s technological advancements. The announcement follows Beijing’s April decision to add several rare earth minerals to its export control list in response to U.S. tariffs under the Trump administration, which had already caused significant global supply shortages. Rare earth minerals remain critical for industries including solar energy, electric vehicles
rare-earth-mineralsexport-controlssemiconductor-manufacturingenergy-materialselectric-vehicle-batteriessupply-chain-securityChina-trade-policyPI releases high dynamics linear motor stage family - The Robot Report
PI Physik Instrumente L.P. has introduced the V-573 family, a new series of high-dynamics linear motor stages designed for ultra-precise positioning in research and industrial applications. Manufactured in the U.S., these stages feature frictionless three-phase linear motors, crossed roller bearings for high stiffness and smooth operation, and offer specifications such as up to 360mm travel, 1nm absolute encoder resolution, 80nm bidirectional repeatability, and velocities up to 500mm/sec with 1g acceleration. The design emphasizes precision with straightness and flatness values as low as 1µm, and includes an anti-creep mechanism to enhance reliability. The stages integrate with PI’s ACS-based EtherCAT motion controllers, enabling optimized system performance through advanced algorithms. The V-573 stages are suitable for a broad range of industries including semiconductor manufacturing (nano-lithography, wafer inspection, metrology), silicon photonics, quantum computing, industrial automation, microscopy, and life sciences
robotautomationlinear-motorprecision-motionsemiconductor-manufacturingindustrial-automationmotion-controlUS firm's sensor for high-purity industry to boost semiconductor making
Honeywell, a North Carolina-based company, has developed the 13MM Pressure Sensor designed specifically for high-purity industries such as semiconductor manufacturing. This advanced sensor operates accurately under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions with minimal offset drift, addressing a common issue where other sensors “drift” in vacuum environments and lose accuracy over time. The 13MM sensor complies with strict semiconductor industry standards (SEMI F20) for metal composition and surface roughness, helping to minimize contamination and defects during wafer fabrication, thereby improving yield and reducing wafer scrap. Beyond semiconductor production, the sensor is applicable in other ultra-high purity environments including solar panel and display manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals, food and beverage, advanced optics, and medical equipment. Its rugged, media-isolated stainless steel design features a piezoresistive semiconductor sensor chip housed in an oil-isolated package, offering exceptional corrosion resistance and durability against aggressive halogenated gases common in semiconductor processes. Honeywell emphasizes that the sensor’s stability and precision
semiconductor-manufacturingpressure-sensorhigh-purity-industriesHoneywell-sensing-solutionswafer-fabricationadvanced-sensorscleanroom-technologyThe Trump administration is going after semiconductor imports
The Trump administration is reportedly considering a new policy aimed at boosting U.S. semiconductor production by enforcing a 1:1 manufacturing ratio. Under this approach, domestic semiconductor companies would be required to produce as many chips in the U.S. as their customers import from overseas manufacturers. Companies failing to meet this ratio could face tariffs, although the timeline for achieving this target remains unclear. This move is part of President Donald Trump’s broader efforts, initiated in August, to impose tariffs on the semiconductor industry and encourage reshoring of chip manufacturing. While the ratio-based policy could eventually increase domestic chip production, it poses significant challenges in the short term. Semiconductor manufacturing plants are complex and costly to build, with long lead times before becoming operational. For example, Intel’s Ohio plant, initially expected to open in 2025, has been delayed until 2030. Meanwhile, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has announced plans to support chip production infrastructure in the U.S., but details remain sparse. The proposed
materialssemiconductor-manufacturingchip-productiontariffssupply-chaintechnology-policyUS-manufacturingNew chemistry shrinks microchips past the limits of human sight
Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a novel microchip manufacturing process that enables circuits to be carved with unprecedented precision at the 229-nanometer scale, producing features smaller than what the human eye can see. This advancement leverages new materials and laser techniques to create ultra-small, faster, and more cost-effective microchips suitable for widespread applications including smartphones and aerospace. The innovation addresses a key industry challenge: finding materials and processes that can endure the intense radiation needed to etch such tiny details economically and reliably in large-scale production. Central to this breakthrough is the use of metal-organic resists composed of metals like zinc combined with an organic compound called imidazole. These resists can withstand beyond extreme ultraviolet (B-EUV) radiation, which traditional materials cannot tolerate. The team employed a chemical liquid deposition (CLD) method to precisely engineer and test various metal-imidazole combinations, discovering that different metals perform optimally at different radiation wavelengths. Zinc, for example, is particularly effective for B
materialsmicrochipssemiconductor-manufacturingnanotechnologymetal-organic-compoundslithographychemical-depositionWhy the U.S. government is not the savior Intel needs
The Trump administration recently announced a controversial plan to convert government grants originally intended for Intel into a 10% equity stake in the company. This move, unprecedented and legally uncertain, aims to support Intel but does not address the company’s core challenges, particularly its struggling Intel Foundry division. Intel Foundry, responsible for manufacturing custom semiconductors for external customers, has failed to secure major contracts and has operated at a loss, contributing to layoffs and internal leadership changes. Industry experts argue that Intel’s problems stem less from funding shortages and more from a flawed customer service approach and internal culture that prioritizes manufacturing over client relationships. Intel itself has acknowledged risks associated with the government equity deal, including dilution of existing shareholders’ stakes and potential negative impacts on its international business, which accounts for the majority of its revenue. The involvement of the U.S. government as a partial owner could complicate Intel’s relationships with foreign customers amid ongoing trade tensions. While some analysts view the government’s intervention as a positive sign of
materialssemiconductor-manufacturingIntel-Foundrygovernment-grantsequity-stakechip-industrysemiconductor-industrySoftBank makes $2B investment in Intel
Japanese conglomerate SoftBank has agreed to invest $2 billion in Intel by purchasing common stock at $23 per share, signaling a strong commitment to advanced semiconductor technology and manufacturing in the United States. The deal, announced after market hours on August 18, 2025, led to a more than 5% increase in Intel’s share price. SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son emphasized that the investment reflects confidence in the expansion of U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing, with Intel playing a pivotal role, especially amid growing interest in AI chip development. This investment serves as a significant validation for Intel, which has faced competitive pressures from companies like Nvidia and is currently undergoing a restructuring under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Intel is focusing on streamlining its semiconductor business, particularly its client and data center segments, while reducing workforce in its Intel Foundry division. The deal also aligns with SoftBank’s renewed focus on the U.S. market and AI technologies, complementing its recent activities such
semiconductorsAI-chipsIntelSoftBankadvanced-technologysemiconductor-manufacturingdata-centersTrump says he’ll announce semiconductor and chip tariffs
President Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on semiconductors and chips as early as next week, though specific details about these tariffs have not yet been disclosed. This move could significantly disrupt U.S. hardware and AI companies, which rely heavily on semiconductor imports. Despite the U.S. producing only a small portion of the world’s chips, it remains home to many leading semiconductor companies. Efforts to boost domestic chip manufacturing have been underway since the 2022 CHIPS Act, which allocated $52 billion in subsidies to increase U.S. production capacity, with companies like Intel investing in new manufacturing facilities. The tariff announcement coincides with ongoing deliberations over AI chip export restrictions. The Trump administration has criticized the Biden administration’s multi-tiered export control rules introduced in May, which limit sales of advanced AI semiconductors to certain countries for national security reasons. In July, the Trump administration released a policy framework emphasizing the need for chip export restrictions but without detailed proposals. Recent reports suggest the Trump administration
semiconductorschip-tariffssemiconductor-manufacturingAI-chipsexport-restrictionschip-industrytechnology-policyJ.P. Morgan reports on U.S. investment trends in applied tech - The Robot Report
J.P. Morgan’s recent “Applied Tech Report” highlights ongoing investment growth in U.S. sectors such as robotics, semiconductors, space, and defense, despite macroeconomic challenges like higher interest rates and market pressures. While IPOs and early-stage investments have remained steady or declined, market consolidation and strategic partnerships underscore confidence in the long-term potential of applied technologies. Government funding plays a significant role, with U.S. federal spending reaching $338 billion in fiscal year 2024, driven by programs like the CHIPS Act and Department of Defense contracts to startups. Venture funding has decreased since 2021, but federal support, especially for AI research and development, is expected to increase. Capital investment in robotics startups has notably increased from about $7 billion in 2020 to over $12 billion in 2024, largely due to advances in AI and rising demand for automation to address labor shortages and productivity needs. Robotics investments tend to focus on later-stage companies requiring substantial capital to scale,
robotrobotics-startupsautonomous-systemssemiconductor-manufacturingdefense-technologyartificial-intelligenceautomationSOSV bets plasma will change everything from semiconductors to spacecraft
SOSV, a venture capital firm, is making a significant bet on plasma technology, planning to invest in over 25 plasma-related startups within the next five years. The firm is also launching a new Hax lab in collaboration with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory to foster innovation in this space. Plasma, a state of matter created by compressing fuel until atoms fuse and release energy, holds promise far beyond fusion energy alone. Duncan Turner, SOSV’s general partner, highlights that the best applications of plasma are yet to be discovered, indicating vast untapped potential. Beyond fusion, SOSV has already invested in companies like Yplasma, which utilizes plasma actuators for cooling data center chips and optimizing airflow over wind turbine blades. Plasma’s role in semiconductor manufacturing could lead to breakthroughs in materials and processes, while plasma thrusters offer more fuel-efficient propulsion for spacecraft. Additionally, plasma technology could enable the production of valuable chemicals such as ammonia
energyplasma-technologyfusion-energysemiconductor-manufacturingspacecraft-propulsionrenewable-energyadvanced-materialsTesla signs $16.5B deal with Samsung to make AI chips
Tesla has entered a $16.5 billion agreement with Samsung to manufacture its next-generation AI6 chips, which are designed to power a wide range of Tesla technologies, from its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system to Optimus humanoid robots and AI training in data centers. Samsung’s new Texas fabrication plant will be dedicated to producing these AI6 chips, marking a significant expansion in Tesla’s chip manufacturing capabilities. Elon Musk also mentioned that Tesla is collaborating with TSMC for its AI5 chips, which have recently completed design and will initially be produced in TSMC’s Taiwan and Arizona facilities. Samsung already produces Tesla’s A14 chip, and this new deal represents a major boost for Samsung’s chip-making ambitions after previous struggles to secure large clients. Musk indicated that Tesla’s spending on Samsung chips could exceed the initial $16.5 billion deal, with actual production output expected to be several times higher. Additionally, Tesla will assist Samsung in optimizing manufacturing efficiency at the Texas fab,
robotAI-chipsTeslaSamsungautonomous-drivinghumanoid-robotssemiconductor-manufacturingIntel to lay off up to 20% of Intel Foundry workers
Intel plans to lay off 15% to 20% of its Intel Foundry division workforce starting in July 2025, according to an internal memo reported by The Oregonian. The Intel Foundry division, which designs, manufactures, and packages semiconductors for external clients, will see significant job cuts, although the exact number of affected employees has not been disclosed. With Intel's total workforce at approximately 108,900 as of December 2024, this reduction represents a substantial downsizing within the division. These layoffs align with strategic changes initiated by Intel’s CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who took over in March 2025 and has focused on streamlining the company’s core business units, flattening organizational structure, and reinforcing an engineering-first approach. The move follows previous layoffs of around 15,000 employees in August 2024 and was foreshadowed by Tan’s statements at the Intel Vision conference earlier in the year. Intel has not provided further details beyond the internal memo
materialssemiconductorsIntel-Foundrysemiconductor-manufacturingchip-productionworkforce-reductiontech-industryNuclear reactors, semiconductors to get smarter with next-gen US plasma tech
energyplasma-technologynuclear-reactorssemiconductor-manufacturingcomputational-physicsindustrial-processessimulation-toolsBosch Ventures is turning its attention to North America with new $270M fund
energy-efficiencyautomotiveclimate-techsemiconductor-manufacturingAI-in-manufacturingdeep-tech-startupsNorth-America-investmentsInterview with Amina Mević: Machine learning applied to semiconductor manufacturing
robotIoTenergymaterialsmachine-learningsemiconductor-manufacturingvirtual-metrology