Unisem Reports 60 Billion KRW in Q1 Sales... Expands Investment in Eco-Friendly Scrubber R&D

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] Unisem announced on the 15th that it recorded sales of 60 billion KRW and operating profit of 8.1 billion KRW on a consolidated basis in the first quarter of this year. This represents a decrease of 22.7% and 40.2%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. Net profit for the period was 5.7 billion KRW, down 54.7% year-on-year.

Unisem is a specialized company in scrubbers and chillers, which are equipment for treating harmful gases and temperature control devices generated in semiconductor and display production processes. It supplies equipment to domestic and international companies such as Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and LG Display.

A company official said, "In the first quarter of this year, there was a delay in equipment delivery due to the investment schedule of major customers' facilities," adding, "Recently, we started supplying scrubbers and chillers to Samsung Electronics' Pyeongtaek Plant 3 (P3), and sales are expected to increase."

Samsung Electronics' Pyeongtaek Plant 3 is the world's largest semiconductor production plant as a single factory and is scheduled for completion within this year. SK Hynix, one of Unisem's major customers, is also expected to increase its facility investment scale. Investments are underway not only in the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster but also in the Icheon M16 and Cheongju M15 plants.

A company official said, "We are also expanding research and development (R&D) investment to develop eco-friendly scrubbers that can reduce harmful gas emissions," adding, "Since we are obtaining positive test results, we expect sales to increase once the equipment under development is commercialized."

Unisem is commercializing and expanding the supply of plasma scrubbers. Plasma scrubbers are considered eco-friendly equipment as they emit less carbon compared to combustion-type scrubbers. In the chiller product line, the company is developing chillers that use eco-friendly refrigerants.