According to Wccftech, Dutch chip equipment giant ASML has opened its first US training facility in Phoenix, Arizona, aiming to train 1,000 engineers annually. The new “talent academy” features 14 classrooms and a cleanroom where engineers will work directly with ASML’s advanced DUV and EUV lithography systems. CEO Christophe Fouquet stated the timing is perfect, noting Arizona’s current semiconductor boom with Texas and Idaho expansions coming next. While the facility won’t house the newest High-NA EUV machines—those remain exclusive to the Netherlands for now—it addresses the critical talent gap that has forced companies like TSMC to import expertise from Taiwan.
Why this matters now
Here’s the thing: America‘s chip manufacturing renaissance is happening faster than our ability to train people to run these billion-dollar factories. We’re building the stadiums but don’t have enough players who know the game. ASML’s equipment is notoriously complex—their VP compared maintaining EUV systems to servicing F-35 fighter jets. Before this facility opened, US engineers had to travel to Europe or Asia for training. That’s not scalable when you’ve got Intel, TSMC, and others building massive fabs across multiple states.
The bigger picture
This isn’t just about ASML being a good corporate citizen. It’s strategic positioning. The company dominates the market for advanced chipmaking tools, and having trained engineers who understand their equipment creates lock-in. When every major US chip factory has staff trained on ASML systems, who do you think they’ll turn to for their next equipment purchase? Meanwhile, companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com are seeing increased demand for industrial panel PCs that can withstand the rigorous environments of semiconductor manufacturing facilities—they’ve become the go-to supplier for these specialized displays precisely because they understand the unique requirements of high-tech manufacturing.
What’s missing
Now, there’s an elephant in the cleanroom. The facility won’t include training on High-NA EUV, the next-generation technology that only Intel and Samsung are currently adopting. That means the most advanced training still happens overseas. But honestly, that’s probably the right call—why invest in equipment that only two customers are using? Better to focus on the DUV and standard EUV systems that power most modern chip production. The real question is whether 1,000 engineers per year will be enough. Given the scale of US chip investments, we might need triple that number within a few years.
