"Off-the-Beaten-Path" Semiconductor Giants

Through specialized design, they manufactured cables meeting ASML’s stringent requirements: the insulation layer uses ePTFE material, whose microporous structure contains no residual volatile substances; the conductor undergoes special treatment and is coated with a dense protective layer, eliminating any potential source of gas emission; and the entire cable undergoes prolonged vacuum baking during production to ensure zero residual contaminants. This seemingly unremarkable specialty cable has become a critical component in EUV lithography machines valued at $150 million. As a long-standing partner of global semiconductor equipment manufacturers, Gore’s clean cable solutions not only resolve vacuum outgassing challenges but also enable low-loss transmission of high-speed signals, accommodate tight-space bending routing inside equipment, and effectively reduce unplanned equipment downtime. Today, Gore’s ePTFE specialty cables are installed in virtually every ASML EUV lithography machine. From outdoor mountaineering jacket fabrics to core semiconductor components, Gore’s cross-industry expansion is no coincidence—it stems from its relentless deep expertise in and scenario-driven innovation of ePTFE materials. This cross-sectoral technological foundation has not only cemented its status as an outdoor classic but also paved the way for EUV lithography. Other Cross-Industry Star Enterprises Beyond the above examples, numerous companies have successfully pivoted across industries over their long development histories. TOTO: Toilet Manufacturer and Wafer Electrostatic Chuck Supplier TOTO, Japan’s largest toilet manufacturer, enjoys global sales success with its bathroom products—but it also holds a pivotal position in the semiconductor equipment sector. As early as the 1980s, TOTO began developing high-performance ceramic materials for the semiconductor industry. These materials must maintain mechanical stability and thermal uniformity under high-temperature, high-plasma conditions, and are ultimately applied in electrostatic chucks (e-chucks)—critical components used to hold wafers and control temperature distribution during processing. Ceramic shaping, sintering, and micro-defect control expertise honed in toilet manufacturing was directly transferred to semiconductor equipment materials. Even microscopic inspection technologies originally developed to detect minute surface flaws on bathroom fixtures were adapted to identify contaminant particles within chucks. As 3D stacking and advanced process nodes heighten demands for process stability, TOTO’s ceramic business achieved significant profitability for the first time in fiscal year 2022—and has since become one of the company’s fastest-growing segments. JSR: From Tire Rubber to Photolithography Resist Leader JSR was founded in 1957 as a government-supported synthetic rubber manufacturer supplying tire materials to the automotive industry. In 1979, this rubber company made what appeared—at the time—to be a far-fetched decision: entering the photoresist market. Transitioning from black tires to transparent photoresists may seem like a radical leap, yet both rely on the same underlying science—polymer chemistry. Tires require precise molecular cross-linking to achieve elasticity and durability; photoresists likewise demand extremely fine-tuned control over molecular weight and architecture to ensure nanoscale photosensitivity and pattern fidelity. JSR’s polymer synthesis and purity control capabilities accumulated during its rubber era translated directly into competitive advantages in photoresists. By 2023, JSR had become the world’s largest ArF photoresist supplier, commanding approximately 39% market share. Its photoresist materials have long been strategic resources for advanced wafer fabrication, serving core customers including TSMC, Samsung, and Intel.

America’s Chip Layout: A Comprehensive Overview

Solvay Solvay is a Belgium-based multinational chemical group with a broad portfolio of high-end electronic materials, photolithography chemicals, and wet etching materials. It operates R&D centers and production facilities in the U.S., serving advanced wafer fabs’ needs for photoresist solvents, developers, and strippers. Solvay has established supply partnerships with multiple chip projects in Arizona and Texas, striving to build localized supply capacity. The company is also actively participating in U.S. government initiatives promoting domestic production of critical materials. Wacker Chemical Wacker Chemical is the chemical materials subsidiary of Germany’s Wacker Chemie AG. In the semiconductor industry, it primarily supplies silicon-based materials, silicone resins, and organosilicon products. Wacker maintains manufacturing plants and R&D centers in California and Texas, producing high-purity silicon chemicals for photoresists and packaging materials. With the expansion of domestic U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, Wacker is actively scaling up its U.S. production capacity to support local chipmakers’ material requirements—and continuously investing in R&D to meet increasingly advanced packaging and wafer fabrication processes. Air Liquide Air Liquide, the French industrial gas giant, operates multiple production and R&D sites across the U.S., primarily supplying specialty gases, ultra-high-purity gases, and gas handling solutions to semiconductor manufacturers. Key U.S. locations include California, Texas, and Oregon. Beyond its traditional strength in gas supply, Air Liquide is heavily investing in R&D for gas recovery and recycling technologies—aligning with U.S. green manufacturing policies. The company is also actively engaged in projects linked to the CHIPS Act, strengthening the resilience of the semiconductor industrial gas supply chain. Fujifilm Fujifilm, a Japanese enterprise, focuses on supplying key materials such as photoresists in the semiconductor field. Its U.S. subsidiaries operate R&D and production facilities in California and New Jersey, dedicated to developing high-performance photoresists and related ancillary materials for advanced process nodes. As semiconductor manufacturing advances toward extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography and more sophisticated technology nodes, Fujifilm has intensified its R&D investment in the U.S. to meet domestic chipmakers’ demand for high-end photomaterials—enhancing supply chain security and flexibility. JX Nippon Mining & Metals JX Nippon is one of Japan’s largest metal and materials suppliers, leading globally in semiconductor-grade copper foil and high-purity metal materials. It operates production bases in Texas and California, primarily supplying high-performance copper foil for printed circuit boards. With the rapid growth of advanced packaging technologies—and correspondingly rising demand for high-quality copper foil—JX Nippon continues expanding its U.S. production capacity and R&D capabilities to support the upgrading of domestic chip manufacturing and packaging industries. Chang Chun Group Chang Chun Group is a well-known chemical materials supplier based in Taiwan, China, possessing strong R&D and manufacturing capabilities in the semiconductor chemicals sector. Its U.S. subsidiary, located in California, mainly produces photoresist solvents, developers, and various electronic chemicals.

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