Intel hails 'landmark as high-volume EUV production begins at Irish plant

The EUV machines, made by Dutch manufacturer ASML, are as big as a bus and cost around $150m (€141.5m) each.

The effort in Ireland is Intel's first attempt at high-volume manufacturing using EUV technology.

Chipmaker Intel said on Friday it had begun high-volume production using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines at its $18.5bn (€17.46bn) plant in Ireland, calling it a "landmark" moment as it seeks to regain ground on its rivals.

The EUV tools, which are theoretically precise enough to hit a person's thumb with a laser pointer from the moon, will play a key role in meeting Intel's goal of delivering five generations of technology in four years, the US company said.