Del Prado didn't actually want to sell ASML; otherwise, he wouldn't have made the decision to partner with Philips and establish ASML.

"Mr. Aiden, thank you very much for Wujiang Microelectronics' willingness to invest in ASML. If your company is willing to invest $20 million, then you can acquire 40% of ASML's shares!"

Upon hearing this, Rex Aiden shook his head and said, "Mr. Del Prado, you need to understand that without Wujiang Microelectronics' investment in ASML, it would very likely go bankrupt. Neither Mitsui & Co. nor Sumitomo Group wants ASML. You should recognize reality from this! Wujiang Microelectronics can only offer $10 million. Can you accept that?"

"Trying to acquire 40% of ASML for just $10 million? That's blatant robbery! No, it's worse than robbery! I absolutely will not agree to it!" Upon hearing this, Del Prado's eyes widened, his expression turning indignant as he loudly objected.

In 1986 alone, ASML lost $14 million, with most of the funds going into research and development. Although it developed the PAS2500 lithography machine, it had no sales, selling only two units and generating $1 million in revenue.

Rex Aiden remained unmoved and said calmly, "Mr. Prado, I am very familiar with ASML's situation. It's practically an assembly plant, isn't it? It doesn't produce any products itself, but instead sources electronic components from other companies. Of course, I don't deny that ASML does have some relatively advanced technology, otherwise Wujiang Microelectronics wouldn't have invested in it."

Del Prado's face turned grim when he heard Rex Eden describe ASML as an assembly plant. ASML was indeed just an assembly plant. Due to limited funds, ASML could not independently develop various electronic components for lithography machines, so it could only find various parts on the market and then buy them to assemble.

The technical content is indeed a bit low.

However, it's not possible for any assembly plant to simply buy the parts and assemble them into an advanced lithography machine.

Therefore, ASML does have some technical merit.

Rex Aiden chuckled softly and said slowly, "Mr. Del Prado, you can go back and think about it carefully. There's no rush."

“Okay, I will seriously consider it!” Del Prado said sternly.

After saying that, he got up and took his leave.

Wujiang Microelectronics' offer was too low and could not possibly meet his requirements.

Rex Eden wasn't in a hurry at all. Zhao Ye had given him plenty of time, and he was required to buy ASML's shares by June 1st at the latest.

...

Del Prado arrived full of enthusiasm but left disappointed.

Thinking about ASML's current situation, I was immediately filled with worry.

Del Prado was extremely unwilling to give up 40% of ASML's shares for just $10 million.

Del Prado decided to try again in Japan to see if any other companies were interested in ASML. If all else failed, he would have to accept the offer from Wujiang Microelectronics.

...

"Xiao Zhao, the new generation of lithography machines has encountered some problems! Many parts cannot be manufactured to the specifications we want due to insufficient precision machining technology!" Academician Huang Kun said to Zhao Ye with great helplessness.

"Isn't there a single company in China that can produce it?" Zhao Ye asked.

Academician Huang Kun shook his head: "China's precision machining technology lags far behind that of foreign countries; we can't produce it!"

After a pause, Academician Huang Kun sighed, "If only we had an advanced nine-axis CNC machine tool, we could definitely manufacture the parts that meet the requirements of the lithography machine..."

As is well known, the more advanced the lithography machine, the higher the precision requirements for its components.

In the past, China's lithography machine development was hampered by the backwardness of its precision machining technology.

As the saying goes, "A skilled craftsman must first have the right tools."

The key tool for precision machining technology is the nine-axis, five-linkage CNC machine tool, but China cannot manufacture it at present.

As early as the 1980s, Japan's nine-axis linkage machine tool technology was already quite advanced.

For example, in the early 1980s, Toshiba sold several world-leading nine-axis five-linkage machine tools to the Soviet Union through intermediaries. This enabled the Soviet Union's nuclear submarine equipment manufacturing industry to leapfrog to a new level. The Soviet Union used these machine tools to manufacture seven-bladed large side-rotor propellers for its nuclear submarines. Due to the improved machining precision, the noise of the submarines was greatly reduced, making it impossible for the United States to detect the movements of Soviet nuclear submarines. This event shocked Western countries and directly led Japan to decide in 1983 to ban Toshiba from exporting any materials to certain countries. During that period, many countries could not even buy a single Toshiba battery.

Even the Soviet Union, the big brother, didn't have nine-axis, five-linkage CNC machine tools, let alone China.

Thinking of this, Zhao Ye couldn't help but frown. He couldn't buy a nine-axis, five-linkage CNC machine tool either. Since Toshiba was sanctioned by the United States, no company has dared to act recklessly.

Advanced lithography machines require high-precision components, which in turn require advanced precision machining technology, which in turn requires advanced CNC machine tools.

Zhao Ye was immediately at his wit's end, thinking, "It seems we have to develop CNC machine tools! Besides, there's materials science. Precision machining has very strict requirements for materials!"

“Academician Huang, if we really can’t manufacture it ourselves, then we’ll have to buy parts from abroad,” Zhao Ye said. “However, this situation can’t continue indefinitely; eventually, we risk being held hostage by others. Therefore, I plan to establish a precision manufacturing company to improve our country’s precision machining technology!”

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!