SKC Solmix Starts Commercial Operation of Expanded CMP Pad Factory, Key for Semiconductor Planarization

Expansion of Localization in Global Corporate Monopoly Market
Construction of 1st and 2nd Plants in Anseong and Cheonan... Securing Annual Production Capacity of 180,000 Units

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] SKC's semiconductor materials and components specialized subsidiary, SKC Solmix, has commenced commercial operation of its CMP pad plant for semiconductor planarization processes in Cheonan. Including the existing Anseong plant, SKC Solmix has secured a total production capacity of 180,000 units annually and is increasing the localization rate of CMP pads.

SKC Solmix announced on the 3rd that it recently started commercial operation of its second CMP pad plant in Cheonan, Chungnam. This facility, built with an investment of 47 billion KRW last year, can produce 120,000 CMP pads annually. SKC's semiconductor materials business began its CMP pad operations in 2015 by investing 20 billion KRW to establish the first CMP pad plant with a capacity of 60,000 units in Yongwol Industrial Complex, Anseong. To meet growing demand, the second plant was added, tripling the production capacity.

CMP pads, made from polyurethane material, are high value-added products that mechanically and chemically polish the surface of semiconductor wafers after photolithography, etching, and deposition processes, together with CMP slurry. They are essential materials for increasing semiconductor integration density, and their usage has increased recently due to semiconductor miniaturization and the rise in process steps. According to semiconductor market research agencies, the global CMP pad market size reached approximately 1.58 trillion KRW in 2023.

The CMP pad market is dominated by two American companies holding over 90% market share. High technological and patent barriers make it difficult for new entrants. Advanced technology is required to control material properties and process the wafer contact surface. Since entering the business in 2015, SKC's semiconductor materials division has leveraged its past polyurethane business technology and know-how, along with independent R&D efforts, filing over 200 domestic and international patents to secure business competitiveness.

Among CMP pad manufacturers, SKC Solmix uniquely holds the manufacturing recipe for CMP pad raw materials. It also possesses the capability to freely control the size and uniformity of micro-scale pores within the CMP pads. This means it can quickly develop and supply CMP pads with the physical properties and contact surfaces desired by customers.

Based on this, SKC Solmix contributes to the localization of CMP pad materials, which were mostly dependent on imports. In 2016, it developed tungsten process pads that replaced imported products used by customers, and it was the first in Korea to localize copper process pads. Recently, it also succeeded in localizing oxide process pads, which are highly challenging, for the first time domestically. This has led to an increased localization rate of CMP pads for domestic customers.

An SKC Solmix official stated, "The Cheonan plant will become a base leading semiconductor material localization by producing CMP pads and blank masks that were previously import-dependent," adding, "We will successfully complete the ongoing certification evaluations with global semiconductor manufacturers overseas and enter the global market to contribute to strengthening the semiconductor material supply chain."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.