DUBLIN, Sept 29 Reuters Chipmaker Intel said on Friday it had begun highvolume production using extreme ultraviolet EUV lithography machines at its 18.5 billion 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 person39;s thumb with a laser pointer from the moon, will play a key role in meeting Intel39;s goal of delivering five generations of technology in four years, the U.S. company said.

The effort in Ireland is Intel39;s first attempt at highvolume manufacturing using EUV technology.

Once the world39;s leading chip manufacturer, Intel has lost the lead but says it is on track to regain it with manufacturing technology it says will rival the best from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

This is a landmark for Intel and the semiconductor industry as a whole, Ann Kelleher, Intel39;s general manager of technology development, said in a statement.

The transfer of Intel 4 process technology into highvolume production in Ireland is a giant step toward enabling leadingedge manufacturing in Europe.

The plant, located in the town of Leixlip outside Dublin, is the first highvolume location for its manufacturing process called Intel 4 that uses EUV. The advanced manufacturing technique will produce its forthcoming Meteor Lake chip for laptops, which will pave the way for AI PCs.

Intel typically finalises new manufacturing processes at a research and development site…