[Market Feature] Korea PIM Rises 8% on Expectations of Becoming Key Humanoid Component Supplier

Korea PIM is showing strong performance in early trading.

As of 9:04 a.m. on December 17, Korea PIM was trading at 63,300 won, up 8.02% (4,700 won) from the previous day.

Investor sentiment appears to have been boosted by expectations that the company will emerge as a key supplier of core components for humanoids, such as reducers, based on its Metal Injection Molding (MIM) technology. MIM is a manufacturing process that combines powder metallurgy with plastic injection molding, making it suitable for mass production of ultra-small components.

Kang Mingoo, a researcher at IBK Investment & Securities, stated, "To realize the 'hand' function of humanoids, ultra-small reducers corresponding to finger joints are required. The market for ultra-small reducers is expected to be a high value-added market, with price (P) and quantity (Q) significantly exceeding those of general reducers. While the full-scale growth of the robot parts business is expected to begin after 2028, when major companies are anticipated to mass-produce humanoids, we forecast a significant improvement in operating margin compared to the existing automotive parts business."

For the cumulative third quarter of this year, Korea PIM posted sales of 28.8 billion won (up 3.4% year-on-year) and operating profit of 900 million won (down 61.8%). Kang added, "Although operating margin is expected to decline this year due to investments made for entry into the IT new business, we expect stable growth from next year, driven by internalization of titanium powder and expanded IT component production capacity (CAPA)."