Testing equipment localization "tension"

As we all know, in the classification of semiconductor equipment, it is mainly divided into wafer processing front-end equipment, testing equipment, and packaging equipment. In the 2020 forecast equipment market with a total size of US$64 billion, although wafer processing front-end equipment accounts for the largest weight, about 85%, the proportion of testing cannot be ignored.

Zhang Yifeng, general manager of Guangdong Li Yang Chip Testing Co., Ltd., pointed out that according to the 2019 global equipment rankings, Advantest and Teradyne, as global professional test equipment suppliers, ranked 6th and 8th respectively, and the combined output value of the two companies exceeded US$4 billion. Coupled with the investment of other equipment manufacturers, this also means that the global test equipment accounts for about 8%.

From the perspective of the test equipment landscape, the situation is still similar and the domestic test equipment manufacturers still have great potential to tap. Moreover, it is not only the test equipment that has great potential, but also the testing industry.

According to statistics from Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute, the proportion of testing costs in IC products is about 6-8%, and the scale of the mainland IC professional testing market is estimated to be about 20 billion yuan. With the vigorous promotion of domestic substitution, the domestic IC testing market will reach a scale of tens of billions of dollars within ten years, with broad prospects.

Make room

Judging from the performance of domestic equipment, a number of "competitors" have stood out. Companies such as Huafeng Measurement & Control, Changchuan Technology, and Foshan Liandong have made achievements in their niche fields.

For example, TSMC actually purchased integrated circuit test equipment from Huafeng Testing and Control for the first time in October this year, involving GaN product testing. Huafeng Testing and Control is one of the earliest companies in China to enter the semiconductor test equipment industry, and has always focused on the field of analog and mixed signal test equipment. This time, it was shortlisted by TSMC, which is a strong proof of its progress and strength.

But the breakthrough of a niche group cannot cover up the overall "paleness".

As well-known expert Chang Yu (pseudonym) said, domestic equipment is still concentrated in the mid- and low-end, and there is still a gap in performance, speed and other aspects compared with foreign manufacturers. There is still a lack of high-end equipment such as testers, and there are no restrictions on the import of test equipment. Therefore, the current situation of test equipment is still dominated by imports.

Judging from some domestic testing manufacturers, more than 90% of them still rely on imported equipment, and domestic testing equipment still faces the challenge of surviving in the cracks.

Zhang Yifeng said frankly: "On the one hand, the application field of domestic test equipment focuses on simulation or low-end and mid-range applications, and there is still a certain distance from the real high-end applications. On the other hand, from the perspective of the demand for equipment in testing, domestic equipment needs to continue to improve in terms of stability."

Especially for testing equipment, "stability is everything". "Testing factories are running 24 hours a day for 365 days a year, and the requirements for equipment stability are very high. They are required to work stably for a long time, rather than requiring maintenance from time to time after a few years. Domestic equipment is relatively weak in this aspect. Although domestic equipment may be more affordable when purchased, in fact, from the perspective of long-term performance, it is difficult to become an alternative if it is not stable enough." Zhang Yifeng emphasized, "For testing manufacturers, in addition to the cost of testing equipment, stability is an important factor to consider."

The road is under your feet

Although it seems that there are still many obstacles to overcome, the road is actually right under our feet.

After all, the window of opportunity created by the domestic substitution wave should not be missed. Zhu Jing, deputy secretary-general of the Beijing Semiconductor Industry Association, recently wrote that the domestic semiconductor equipment and materials sector still focuses on increasing the localization rate, especially if the United States further sanctions related foundry and packaging and testing manufacturers in mainland China, the localization progress of domestic semiconductor equipment and materials will be further accelerated.

The charge to the mid-to-high-end market is both a necessity and a general trend. Chang Yu said that as the SiP integration of SoC chips becomes higher and higher, the chips will become more high-end, which means that the test will become more complicated. In addition, the all-round test of chips involves functions, performance, reliability, etc., and the dependence on the test is also higher, which puts higher requirements on the test equipment. Domestic test equipment manufacturers should not only continue to cultivate their own small piece of land, but also set their sights high and charge to the high ground.

For domestic testing equipment to be put into use, it is also inseparable from the joint "responsibility" of testing manufacturers. The domestic industry chain will continuously promote the capacity improvement and mass production of the industry chain by supporting each other, verifying and using domestic equipment.

"If domestic equipment can make breakthroughs in cost-effectiveness and stability, Li Yang is very willing to adopt domestic equipment." Zhang Yifeng expressed his sincerity.

Zheng Qujiang, chairman of Sichuan Mingtai Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., also pointed out that with the suppression of Chinese high-tech abroad, domestic design companies have united unprecedentedly and transferred more production capacity to China. In addition, Mingtai used to basically use foreign equipment, but in recent years, it has also been intensively communicating with domestic equipment manufacturers, hoping to provide more verification and mass production opportunities for domestic equipment suppliers.