Tech Giants: Starting from Bankrupt Companies

266: Chapter 266 Breaking Through the Barriers of Photolithography: The 16-Nano Photolithography MachineGao Mingxuan walked to the center of the stage, with all 11 pieces of equipment behind him.

”The morning presentation ends here,” he said. ”Everyone is welcome to take a closer look. All equipment is in operation, and you are welcome to test the workpieces on-site. We have prepared various raw materials for you to operate and experience firsthand.”

He concluded with one final sentence: ”The philosophy of Xingchen Heavy Industry is very simple—use Chinese machine tools to manufacture world-class products.”

Applause erupted.

It was not enthusiastic applause, but heavy applause—like hammers striking steel.

Because everyone knew that what they saw today was not just a product display, but a declaration of the rise of an industrial powerhouse.

The crowd surged toward the exhibition stands.

Representatives from Germany, Japan, and the USA gathered in front of the equipment, repeatedly testing them with their own measuring instruments.

Hans Muller lingered in front of the Heavenly Work Extreme for twenty minutes, personally operating the machining program and testing three workpieces.

Finally, he said to his assistant: ”The data is authentic. The precision really reaches 0.001 mm, and the stability is excellent—after processing ten workpieces in a row, the error fluctuation does not exceed 0.0003 mm.”

”What should we do?” the assistant asked.

”Lower prices,” Hans gritted his teeth. ”Reduce the DMU 80 to $700,000. Also... contact Xingchen and ask if they are willing to engage in technical cooperation.”

”Cooperation?”

”Use our European channels in exchange for their technology licensing,” Hans said with a complex look in his eyes. ”If you can’t beat them, join them.”

This was the first time in the century-long history of German industry that it had proposed technical cooperation to a non-Western country.

The delegation from Japan’s FANUC was even more embarrassed.

Their most proud numerical control system had been comprehensively surpassed by Xingchen’s Xingchu OS—not only was the precision higher, but it also integrated AI and supported multiple languages.

Although Tanaka Koji had left the venue, the rest of the team remained.

Technical Director Yamamoto Ichiro operated the Luban Milling Machine’s AI system and then fell silent.

”Their AI... can really recognize material changes,” Yamamoto whispered to his colleague. ”We have been researching for five years and still haven’t reached this level.”

”Should we buy a few and take them back for research?”

”Buy them. Buy them through a distributor in Taiwan; don’t use the Japanese company’s name.”

The representative from America’s Haas was relatively calm because they focused on the low-to-mid-end market, so the competition with Xingchen was not direct.

But Vice President Robert Li (Chinese-American) said to his assistant: ”Contact headquarters and suggest transferring some low-end production lines to China to use Xingchen’s equipment. Costs can be reduced by 40%.”

”What about the US factories...”

”Shut them down,” Robert said decisively. ”There is no sentiment in manufacturing competition, only cost and technology.”

The aftermath of the morning’s launch was still lingering. After a short two-hour break, everyone arrived at Exhibition Hall 4 next door.

2:00 PM, Hall 4.

There was no heavy equipment here, and the lighting had become brighter and softer.

Three transparent, clean covers rose on the exhibition stand. Inside were not steel beasts, but precision works of art—silver-white shells, complex optical systems, and precise mechanical structures.

Li Wanqing, President of Xinghuo Chip, took the stage again.

She had changed her outfit today: a white lab coat over a light gray shirt, looking professional and rigorous.

”This morning, President Gao showcased ’manufacturing tools’,” Li Wanqing began. ”This afternoon, I will showcase ’the tools to manufacture tools’.”

She pointed to the first transparent cover: ”Without high-end machine tools, one cannot build high-end chips. But without high-end lithography machines, one cannot build the core of high-end chips—the lithography machine.”

The transparent cover opened slowly.

A piece of equipment about 10 meters long and 3 meters high was revealed. It was not as rugged as the machine tools; it looked more like a precision scientific instrument: countless lenses, lasers, sensors, and control units integrated within the silver-white shell.