Company
Zeiss
TL;DR
German optics company that produces optical systems including EUV mirrors requiring atomic-level precision for ASML's lithography equipment.
German optics company that produces optical systems including EUV mirrors requiring atomic-level precision for ASML's lithography equipment. Zeiss has partnered with ASML (and predecessors) for over 60 years.
ASML and Zeiss jointly invested over €1 billion developing EUV mirror systems, creating technologies neither could have developed alone and neither can easily replicate with alternative partners. This co-development creates genuine interdependence - Zeiss cannot easily find alternative customers for EUV mirror systems; ASML cannot easily find alternative suppliers.