Nikon wins order from American Consortium

Nikon Corp. received another order for its next-generation 450mm stepper machine, narrowing the gap  between itself and rival ASML Holding NV as the semiconductor industry shifts to 450mm diameter wafers. The new order is from the Global 450 Consortium (G450C), a US-based conglomerate of five leading  chipmakers – Intel, IBM, GlobalFoundries, TSMS, and Samsung. The consortium is believed to have placed  the order at around 7-8 billion yen (US$77-80 million), with delivery of the stepper machine expected in the  first half of 2015.