Core Material for Next-Generation Package Substrates
On November 5, Samsung Electro-Mechanics announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japan's Sumitomo Chemical Group to review the establishment of a joint venture (JV) for the production of 'glass core,' a key material for next-generation package substrates.
Glass core is considered an essential technology for realizing advanced, high-density, large-area semiconductor package substrates, as it features a lower coefficient of thermal expansion and superior flatness compared to conventional glass substrates.
Keiichi Iwata, Chairman of Sumitomo Chemical, and Dukhyun Jang, President of Samsung Electro-Mechanics, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to review the establishment of a joint venture (JV) for the production of 'glass core,' a key material for next-generation package substrates. Samsung Electro-Mechanics
The signing ceremony took place in Tokyo, Japan, and was attended by Dukhyun Jang, President of Samsung Electro-Mechanics; Keiichi Iwata, Chairman of Sumitomo Chemical; Nobuaki Mito, President of Sumitomo Chemical; and Jongchan Lee, President of Dongwoo Fine-Chem, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical.
The joint venture agreement is seen as a strategic move to overcome the limitations of package substrate technology amid the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC). Through this agreement, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Sumitomo Chemical, and Dongwoo Fine-Chem plan to combine their respective technological strengths and global networks to secure manufacturing and supply lines for glass core for package substrates and accelerate their entry into the market.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics will be the main investor holding a majority stake in the joint venture, while Sumitomo Chemical Group will participate as an additional investor. The companies aim to finalize the main contract next year and will discuss details such as the equity structure, business timeline, and the name of the corporation. According to Samsung Electro-Mechanics, the headquarters of the joint venture will be located at the Pyeongtaek site of Dongwoo Fine-Chem, which will also serve as the initial production base for glass core.
Dukhyun Jang, President of Samsung Electro-Mechanics, stated, "With the acceleration of the AI era, demand for ultra-high-performance semiconductor package substrates is increasing, and glass core is a key material that will reshape the future substrate market. By combining the capabilities of the three companies, we will create a new axis of growth in the next-generation semiconductor package market."
Keiichi Iwata, Chairman of Sumitomo Chemical, commented, "Through our collaboration with Samsung Electro-Mechanics, we expect to generate significant synergy in the advanced semiconductor back-end process sector. We will use this project to solidify our long-term partnership."
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