Samsung Electro-Mechanics Gains Attention Ahead of Apple M2 Processor Launch

"Samsung Electro-Mechanics, the Only Domestic Company Supplying Semiconductor Substrates to Apple"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] As Apple is expected to unveil a new product lineup equipped with its independently designed M2 processor within the first half of the year, attention is focused on whether Samsung Electro-Mechanics is the only domestic company supplying semiconductor substrates to Apple.

On the 21st, the electronics and securities industries are weighing the possibility that Samsung Electro-Mechanics, along with Japan's Ibiden and Taiwan's Unimicron, will supply the semiconductor package substrate (FC-BGA) used in the M2 processor. As Samsung Electro-Mechanics and LG Innotek are both expanding investments in next-generation semiconductor substrates, rumors have spread that Apple will source substrates from Korean companies. This has created a sentiment favoring Samsung Electro-Mechanics over the latecomer LG Innotek as the likely supplier.

FC-BGA is a substrate that connects semiconductor chips to the main substrate and is considered a core component of the semiconductor post-process packaging work. It is known to be the most technically challenging among package substrates.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics has stated that it cannot confirm customer-related details. However, the industry views Samsung Electro-Mechanics' semiconductor substrate production technology and sales volume as the only ones in Korea comparable to Japanese and Taiwanese companies. It is believed that Samsung Electro-Mechanics has been partially involved in supplying substrates since Apple's M1 processor and is highly likely to have been selected as a substrate supplier for the M2 as well. Samsung Electro-Mechanics' FC-BGA is already positioned at the top tier, being used in high-performance laptops.

Kwon Sung-ryul, an analyst at DB Financial Investment, said, "Apple is developing at least nine Mac PCs equipped with the M2. It appears that Samsung Electro-Mechanics is participating in the substrate segment for Apple's M2 processor. Samsung Electro-Mechanics already supplies FC-BGA to several CPU and GPU companies and supplied substrates for the previous M1, so great results are expected in the future."

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