Power Module Manufacturer IA... Targeting the 300 Trillion KRW Automotive Semiconductor Market

IA Producing Automotive Power Semiconductors and Modules
Only Domestic SME Mass-Producing Automotive Power Modules
Subsidiary Trino Technology Achieved SiC Power Semiconductor Localization in 2019
"Investing 4% of Annual Sales in R&D... Aiming to Secure Global Competitiveness"

On the front line, the 'high-speed chip mounter process' is underway, mounting components and chips onto DBC substrates.
[Photo by InnoBiz Association]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwak Minjae] On the 30th, at the IA Powertron production plant in Bupyeong, Incheon, after putting on dustproof suits and completing the air shower, I entered the approximately 990㎡ underground first-floor power module production site. The frontline was lined with equipment continuously operating SMT (Surface Mount Technology) processes. The SMT process involves mounting chips onto substrates.

At the finish line, the molding process was being carried out in real-time, where a plastic material called EMC (Epoxy Molding Compound) is placed into molds and melted with heat and pressure, then stamped onto the chips like fish-shaped bread. Molding is a key process that encapsulates circuits with plastic material to protect them from external environments such as heat and moisture. Following this, the EOL (End Of Line) line conducts tests such as withstand voltage and high-temperature tests on the finished products. After a total of 22 process steps, the final power module for EPS (Electric Power Steering) is completed.

Molding processes are being carried out at the finish line to protect wires and internal circuits.
[Photo by Inno-Biz Association]

EPS is a device that converts the steering direction of a vehicle driver into electrical signals to drive a motor and control the vehicle's direction. IA Powertron counts Hyundai Mobis as a major client. An IA representative explained, “IA is the only domestic small and medium-sized enterprise mass-producing and supplying automotive power modules,” adding, “We have a rich production history of over 9 million EPS power modules, developing customized circuit designs and pin configurations according to customer specifications.”

At the EOL line, internal voltage and high-temperature tests are being conducted on finished products.
[Photo by InnoBiz Association]

IA is a company that develops and manufactures automotive power semiconductors and modules. Its subsidiary IA Powertron produces power modules, while another subsidiary, Trino Technology, designs, develops, and manufactures power semiconductors. Power semiconductors are core semiconductor components that convert, distribute, control, and manage power according to device requirements. They are used in various fields including home appliances, communication devices, renewable energy generation, and electric vehicles, where power production, storage, and operation are necessary. The industry forecasts the power semiconductor market size to be approximately 50 trillion KRW in 2023.

IA originated from CNS Tech, a multimedia chip specialist company established in 1997. Former Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Kim Dongjin acquired it in 2010. Currently, Kim Dongjin serves as Chairman and CEO, alongside co-CEOs Lee Yongjun and Raymond Kim. In 2016, IA received the Inno-Biz certification, recognizing its excellent technology in automotive semiconductors and modules. IA is regarded as a model case demonstrating the effectiveness of Inno-Biz certification in discovering and supporting innovative companies. At the time of certification, sales were about 60.9 billion KRW, and last year they surpassed 80 billion KRW.

Co-CEOs Raymond Kim (left) and Yongjun Lee. [Photo by Innobiz Association]

IA is accelerating the strengthening of its power semiconductor business division through its core subsidiary, Trino Technology. Unlike general semiconductors, power semiconductors allow current to flow vertically through the wafer. The key process is to make the wafer (substrate) as thin as possible to improve efficiency during this vertical current flow.

Trino Technology particularly holds technological competitiveness in this area. It has its own production environment capable of ultra-thin wafer processing and claims to have secured a global top 10 market share in silicon-based IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) through excellent technology and production facilities. IGBT is a type of power semiconductor product advantageous for use in high-voltage and high-current environments with fast switching speeds.

To respond quickly to the market, Trino Technology domestically developed SiC (Silicon Carbide)-based power semiconductor devices, known as next-generation power semiconductors, in 2019. SiC is a compound semiconductor composed of silicon (Si) and carbon (C). It is known to have an insulating breakdown electric field strength more than 10 times superior to conventional silicon, meaning it can withstand much higher voltages without damage. It also has properties that allow application in power conversion circuits at temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for electric vehicles. IA is currently preparing technology development and establishing its own production environment for mass production.

Kim Dongjin, CEO of IA, stated, “We invest more than 4% of annual sales in R&D, and about 15% of our total workforce is dedicated to research and development, aiming to create high added value and expand into the future automotive market.” He added, “As automotive semiconductors are expected to grow into a massive market exceeding 300 trillion KRW, we will secure global competitiveness by making proactive investments and building a system capable of semiconductor design through production.”

Bupyeong, Incheon = Reporter Kwak Minjae

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