Japan's Stealth Semiconductor Material Manufacturer
On February 21, PC Watch reported that Japanese toilet manufacturer TOTO actually plays a significant role in the semiconductor supply chain and is an "underappreciated AI company."
The TOTO Group produces electrostatic chucks and other products used in manufacturing NAND memory chips. This is the basic component used to fix silicon wafers in semiconductor manufacturing, with its stability reflected by ceramic technology developed in the production of bathroom products.
Ajinomoto is a group renowned for its seasonings. However, its "Ajinomoto Advanced Barrier Film (ABF)" produced in the semiconductor industry occupies most of the share in the global high-end GPU market. The relevant products hold "almost 100% of the mainstream personal computer market share." Reports about alternative materials to ABF often appear, but none have managed to break Ajinomoto's market share.
Amid intensified competition in AI development and rising semiconductor prices, investments in Japanese semiconductor-related companies may accelerate.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857703805970443/
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