Samsung Electro-Mechanics glass substrate
Samsung Electro-Mechanics is speeding up its semiconductor glass substrate business. The company decided to build the prototype production (pilot) line, which was originally planned for this year, one quarter earlier. It is analyzed as an attempt to catch up with competitors by conducting a speed war from research and development (R&D) to mass production.
According to the industry on the 6th, Samsung Electro-Mechanics has recently confirmed that the completion date for bringing in semiconductor glass substrate pilot line equipment will be September. We plan to internally select an equipment company for the pilot line to be built in Sejong and begin construction of the facility in earnest.
An industry official familiar with the matter said, “Samsung Electro-Mechanics has shared its delivery schedule with major glass substrate equipment suppliers,” and added, “We plan to secure automation functions, including Samsung’s safety regulations, and complete the import by September.”
Compared to existing plastic (organic) materials, glass substrates allow for the formation of finer circuits and are thinner. It is resistant to heat and is attracting attention as a semiconductor substrate for high-performance computing (HPC).
Accordingly, Samsung Electro-Mechanics formalized its entry into the semiconductor glass substrate market at CES 2024 in January of this year and unveiled a roadmap of △building a pilot line this year, △mass production of prototypes next year, and △mass production in 2026.
Although it is a one-year plan, it is reported that the company is pursuing a more aggressive action internally. They are already active enough to discuss line construction with multiple equipment suppliers.
Currently, major equipment partners for pilot line construction include Philoptics, Chemtronics, Joongwoo M-Tech, and Germany's LPKF. Once the equipment is brought in and preparation work is completed, the pilot line is expected to operate as early as the fourth quarter.
Panoramic view of Samsung Electro-Mechanics Suwon business site
It is analyzed that Samsung Electro-Mechanics is accelerating its business to minimize the gap with its competitors. SKC subsidiary Absolix plans to begin full operation of its prototype production plant in Georgia, USA in the second quarter. Samsung Electro-Mechanics has not yet completed its pilot line, but its competitors are beginning small-scale production.
In addition, as major glass substrate customers such as Intel and AMD began building supply chains in earnest, it became urgent to create technology and production infrastructure to secure customers. As the glass substrate market opened, Samsung Electro-Mechanics needed to respond quickly.
It is interpreted that the slowing growth of Samsung Electro-Mechanics' main markets, such as mobile and PC, was also influenced by the need for new future sources. Samsung Electro-Mechanics has selected HPC and automotive electronics as its main targets and is making every effort to secure new growth engines, including glass substrates.
Another industry insider said, “Samsung Electro-Mechanics President Jang Deok-hyun is directly showing a strong commitment to the glass substrate business,” and added, “This is also why Samsung Electro-Mechanics is tightening its grip on the glass substrate business.”
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