Chapter 1076: What are you afraid of antitrust investigation?
"I don't want to waste precious time. What I want to say now is that we have now obtained the production authorization for DDR2, so next, should we put this kind of memory into production?" Zheng Shengying looked at the people below, wondering what to do with the patent fee. , those are insignificant expenditures, and now it is necessary to decide whether to launch a memory chip with new specifications. This will have a profound impact on the entire generation of electronics.
"The memory rules are set by the Orientals. If we follow the footsteps of the Orientals, it will continue to increase the influence of the Orientals. I suggest not to follow. We must follow the American standards. Intel will definitely launch new memory Standard." A technician said.
"Yes, we have been following the Easterners over the years. This is simply fueling the growth of the Eastern electronics industry. We cannot continue like this. We must help the United States and defeat the Easterners!"
"Huh, is there a future if we follow the United States? The most advanced chip technology is in the East." A cold voice sounded: "If we follow the United States, can we still have a market? How can our line-generation electronics continue to grow and develop? Who cares? East or West, we only care about making money!"
"Hmph, short-sighted, this is completely short-sighted! If we all supported Intel's RDR memory, would Eastern DDR memory develop? Now that Eastern people have proposed the DDR2 standard, we can no longer follow up, no one will Play with them and watch them sing alone."
"Don't follow up? Then watch the meat enter the mouths of Orientals! Now, the price of a 512 MB DDR2 memory stick has reached more than 300 US dollars. If you produce a memory stick, you can earn more than 250 US dollars. profit! In the past five years, the average annual demand is expected to be more than 50 million! Even if we only occupy one-fifth of the market, that is a profit of 2.5 billion US dollars! Everyone, our annual profit is only 40 million US dollars. With around 100 million US dollars, as long as we install a DDR2 memory production line, our profits can be increased by half!"
Everyone in the conference room was divided into two groups. One group wanted to follow the footsteps of the West and refuse to continue to follow the Eastern route. The other group wanted to make money first and have milk to be a mother.
If this continues, this meeting will develop into a quarrel again! Zheng Shengying frowned and looked at the people around him: "Jin Dachuan, please tell me your opinion."
Jin Dachuan, the person in charge of the memory production plant under Line Generation Electronics. He had not spoken when everyone was arguing. Now when he heard Zheng Shengying's roll call, he hesitated for a while before finally speaking.
“Do you still remember how our country’s chip industry developed?”
Everyone stopped arguing and looked at him.
"In 1983, Sanhang Electronics took six months to build its first chip factory, using the most advanced 6-inch wafer production line. At that time, factories such as Intel, Hitachi and NEC were still very cautious. It just started trial production of 6-inch wafers. In the second year, Sanxing Electronics decided to invest in the construction of a second production line, and has since entered the first-line camp in the global chip field. After entering the 1990s, Sanxing Electronics continued to use bold With a radical investment strategy, they invested heavily in wafer production for five consecutive years and eventually became the world's leading memory manufacturer. However, in the subsequent development, they chose the wrong direction and have never recovered."
Dongfang's chip production was originally a technology obtained from Sanxing Electronics. The 64-megabyte memory was taught by Sanxing Electronics step by step. But after that, Dongfang began to exert its efforts. Due to rapid breakthroughs in areas such as lithography machines, the results surpassed Three rows of electrons.
Although there were incidents such as the fire at the Sanxing Electronics factory, the decline of Sanxing Electronics was ultimately due to the opposition to the East and the failure to choose the Eastern technology route, while the Line Generation Electronics was silently making a fortune.
"The choice of direction is very important. We are a chip factory, not a charity. If we choose the wrong direction just because of some psychological factors, which will eventually lead to our Line Generation Electronics embarking on the same path as Sanxing Electronics, then who will Will you bear the consequences?"
“We now have profits from DDR memory, which is enough for us to make good profits. How could we embark on the same path as Sanxing Electronics?”
“Everyone, technology is constantly evolving! Yes, DDR memory is mainstream, but in the future, it will definitely be replaced by more advanced memory. Do you think Intel can lead the industry? I don’t think Intel can defeat Loongson.”
At this moment, someone hurriedly walked in: "General Manager, I just got the news that AMD has decided to choose DDR2 memory as the next generation memory standard. They will first integrate this memory controller on high-end processors. "
AMD has also taken a stand. This company was the first to compromise with the East and even handed over production to the East. Now in the United States, the performance of AMD processors has far exceeded that of Intel. After all, it has advantages in manufacturing processes.
Since production is handed over to the East, the technical route must also move closer to the East. They will use whatever the East uses.
As for the attitude of the Americans, they want to solve part of the chip production problems in this way. After all, they also need advanced chips. They rely on AMD to take a breather and wait for Intel to exert its power. However, the facts are different from what they think. It's different. AMD is thriving, but Intel is about to go bankrupt. If it weren't for government investment, Intel would have disappeared long ago.
“In five years, DDR2 memory will become mainstream. If we don’t follow up, after Dongfang expands its wafer production line, they may be able to fully produce it themselves.”
“Wouldn’t they be able to get more benefits if they produce it themselves?”
"It should be due to anti-monopoly needs. If they are all produced by them, the West will definitely launch an anti-monopoly investigation, so they will authorize our production." Jin Dachuan said.
“Now, I think that in order to support AMD’s processors, the DDR2 memory project can and must be launched. What do you think?”
Making money is the first priority. We should consider our position later. We are also providing advanced memory to the US market!
“However, the profits of DDR memory modules are relatively stable now, and we cannot give up the production of this kind of memory.” An executive said, well, they can accept the project, but they cannot ignore the immediate benefits.
"Of course." Zheng Shengying said: "We need to build a new 12-inch production line. I think it is better to set up this production line in the United States. What do you think?"
Established in the United States? After hearing this, everyone thought for a moment and then clapped and applauded, yes, that's how it should be!
Line Generation Electronics has dissatisfied some Americans because of its production of DDR memory. If it continues to follow up on the DDR2 project, it will attract a lot of criticism. However, if it invests in setting up factories in the United States, it will be another issue. kind of meaning.
Building a factory in the United States can bring profits to the local area, pay taxes to the local area, and the products produced can also be sold to the American market, which can be used with AMD processors. At the same time, the entire factory seems to be used as collateral for the United States. What else are Americans dissatisfied with?
They will definitely give their full support.
“We estimate that this investment will exceed US$5 billion, but for our future development, this investment is still worth it.” Zheng Shengying continued.
“Five billion, is this much needed?” Everyone was very curious.
Dongfang has developed rapidly in electronic technology, and its technology has always been ahead of other competitors. However, other companies are not idle, and their manufacturing processes are also improving.
Today's DDR memory is already using a 0.13 micron manufacturing process, and it is very mature. The more advanced 90nm process is also being developed. The memory stick is not a central processor, so there is no need for 65nm or even 45nm. For nanotechnology, 0.13 microns is enough.
It’s already a lot to spend one billion or two billion to invest in a chip factory, but now it actually costs five billion. How is that possible?
"This improved DDR2 memory requires lower heat generation, so it is best to use a 90-nanometer process. This process is also currently under development. Of the five billion US dollars, two billion are used in Research on chip technology."
They must develop this process. After all, Dongfang's 90nm processors have been mass-produced for a long time. Now I am afraid there is a more advanced process. DDR2 memory modules also need this process. If they still can't figure it out, they will Afraid of falling behind step by step.
“Yes, it is important to develop the 90-nanometer process. We must spend this money!”
Everyone has no objections and it was passed unanimously.
With the continuous advancement of chip technology, the materials required are getting better and better. The photoresist used in the past is no longer easy to use in the improved process, which will lead to a greatly reduced yield rate.
“In this case, can we purchase photoresist from the East? They have mature processes and should also have qualified photoresist and other products, right?”
"We need to have our own industrial chain. It is best to produce everything ourselves. If we rely on others, we may be controlled by others, especially the East."
"Since we have all been selected as competitors to avoid monopoly, what is there to fear? What can be purchased should be purchased from the East first, and our production lines should be built first. Later, when our own matures, or other Western factories can It’s provided, it’s not too late to replace it.”
Zheng Shengying thought for a moment and then nodded: "Yes, that's the truth. We can use theirs first, which can reduce our investment. Anyway, other chip factories must also solve the production problems of the 90-nanometer process. They themselves also need to use these materials. If it can be produced, we don’t have to invest precious funds in this kind of research and development.”
She didn’t know what a serious mistake she had made.
Dongfang, Chongming Island, Huating Second Shipyard.
“Only the weak are afraid of antitrust investigations. Even if we crush all our competitors, whoever dares to accuse us of monopoly will stop supplying to anyone who accuses us!” Qin Tao said with a smile.
Cong Ju also had a smile on her face: "Yes, we have never been afraid of these, but are you sure they will develop a new liquid cargo fence system?"
The antitrust investigation Qin Tao is talking about is not a monopoly on chips, but a monopoly on the shipbuilding industry, a monopoly on liquefied gas ships!
In order to develop, Mingzhou Shipyard decided to introduce LNG liquefied gas ship technology from France. The most important one was the membrane liquid cargo fence system. The most critical one was the welding process of Yinwa steel, which cost a lot of money at that time. , but subsequent facts also proved him correct: for a long time, liquefied gas ships were the most profitable projects of Mingzhou Shipyard, and even now, they are still one of the most profitable projects.
The entire Huating Second Shipyard is building liquefied gas ships, but since they have developed their own liquid cargo fence system, they no longer need to pay patent fees to the French, and everything they make is their own. At the same time, Mingzhou Group It also authorized this liquid cargo fence system to all domestic shipyards, whoever wants to build it. In this way, Dongfang became the world's largest producer of liquefied gas ships.
With the development of the times, all countries have begun to pay attention to environmental protection, and the demand for liquefied gas ships has become increasingly strong. Eastern shipyards have made a lot of money relying on this type of ship and have grown rapidly. Looking at the opposite side, although the South Kimchi Country's liquefied gas ships are constantly being built, they are just making hard money: the profit of a ship is only 10%, but 5% of the profit must be handed over to the French. The patent fee only leaves 5% of the profit, which is really pitiful.
Dongfang has not entered into a price war with them. After all, Dongfang's shipbuilding industry needs sufficient profits to support it, and it will not work if there is less money.
Has the South Kimchi Congress been sitting back and watching this happen?
Of course not, they will definitely develop their own liquid cargo fence system. Since Mingzhou Group can do it, why can’t they?
However, is it a coincidence that it was developed at this time? Where did Mr. Qin get this judgment?
“I wasn’t sure at first, but today, when I saw this report, I felt it was almost the same.”
Cong Ju took the newspaper from Qin Tao's hand. In this day and age, do you still read newspapers? However, Cong Ju felt a little embarrassed when she saw that the newspapers were all filled with unfamiliar words: "Mr. Qin, I only know English and French. I am learning Japanese and Korean, but I haven't mastered them yet."
This is the newspaper of South Kimchi Country!
Qin Tao smiled: "I can't understand this either, but I have a translator! Come on, Secretary Xu, translate it for us."
"On the characteristics of high manganese steel." Xu Zhengyang read: "High manganese steel is steel containing ten to fourteen percent manganese. The biggest advantage of this steel is that it has good low temperature resistance and resistance to The wear strength can remain stable even in ultra-low temperature environments of minus two hundred degrees."
“This is the same as our Yinwa steel.” Cong Ju reacted immediately.
If you want to liquefy natural gas, you have to keep it in an environment of minus 163 degrees Celsius, and the parts that are in direct contact with the liquefied natural gas need to be able to withstand low temperatures, especially if they do not expand or contract with temperature changes. Phenomenon.
Since Invar steel has this characteristic, it has been used to make the cargo fence system of liquefied gas ships, and now, high manganese steel can also be used!
“No, if high manganese steel can also be made, why hasn’t anyone used it before?”
“Don’t worry, Secretary Xu, keep reading.”
"The biggest problem with high manganese steel is that when it suddenly encounters cold, its plasticity will become lower, making it more fragile. At present, we have solved this problem through technological research and development. No matter it is the original steel surface or the welding position, it will not Problems such as breakage may occur due to sudden exposure to cold.”
Cong Ju nodded: "The purpose of this article is very strong. It seems that the people of South Korea are determined to build a liquefied gas ship with their own patented technology."
"Yes, this is a good opportunity they brought to our door. We have to seize it." Qin Tao said: "The biggest purpose of using high manganese steel is to reduce costs. After all, high manganese steel is much cheaper. A ship of 17 Our construction cost for a 10,000-cubic-meter liquefied gas ship is about 150 million US dollars, and the price is 200 million US dollars. If we use high manganese steel, the price can be reduced to about 50 million US dollars. If they also sell it for 200 million US dollars, That can earn 150 million US dollars. Of course, their more likely way is to lower prices and suppress our shipbuilding companies."
Cong Ju was a little confused: "Is this still a good opportunity?"
Of course it was a good opportunity. Qin Tao started with the automotive industry and electronics layout, but did not touch the heavy industry of the automotive industry or their shipbuilding industry. He originally planned to take his time, but unexpectedly, the other party actually came to his door. Got it!
"Yes, this is a good opportunity. From now on, we will increase the quotation for liquefied gas ships. The increase will be 20%."
Cong Ju didn’t understand even more: “If we want to compete with them, shouldn’t we lower the price? Raising the price like this will only push customers there.”
"That's right, I just want to send all my customers to them. They will try their best to sell this brand-new liquefied gas ship to their customers, and they will also lower the price to grab our business. Let them grab ten ships. Twenty ships, the more the better.”
Cong Ju finally reacted: "Mr. Qin, their technology is defective?"
When signing a contract, the shipyard always has a delivery date. After the delivery date, compensation must be paid. After a certain period of time, the customer will abandon the ship. At that time, the losses will belong to the shipyard.
If ten or twenty natural gas ships cannot be delivered, then this shipyard will definitely go bankrupt!
Users must have concerns about the new technology. However, Dongfang has raised the price, and customers have no choice but to go to South Kimchi Country with the idea of giving it a try. South Kimchi Country hopes to launch this kind of technology. The brand-new ship type has gained market recognition, so it’s almost an instant hit.
Then, the shipbuilding industry of South Kimchi Country will be severely hit!
When their shipyards close down, they will still build a crappy aircraft carrier.
(End of this chapter)