Samsung Electro-Mechanics is teaming up with South Korean semiconductor materials company SoulBrain to develop materials for glass substrates, with plans for mass production by 2027. This partnership aims to enhance Samsung's supply chain ecosystem and boost the development of next-generation semiconductor technology.
Seoul Economic Daily and Korea Economic Daily reveal that the two companies have started collaborating on the development of etching solutions, which are vital in the manufacturing of glass substrates. SoulBrain previously provided etching solutions to Samsung Display for OLED panel production, sparking interest in their potential application in the glass substrate sector.
Glass substrates offer significant advantages over traditional plastic substrates. They enable the creation of more intricate circuits, reduce thickness, and potentially decrease power consumption by over 30%. Additionally, glass substrates can be produced in larger sizes, marking them as a key technology for future semiconductor developments. MarketsandMarkets predicts that the glass substrate market will grow from US$7.1 billion in 2023 to US$8.4 billion by 2028, an 18% increase.
In response to this growing demand, Samsung Electro-Mechanics is accelerating its efforts to commercialize glass substrates. The company has already begun constructing a pilot production line at its Sejong factory in South Korea, with plans to start sample production in 2025. During CES 2025, the company confirmed that negotiations are underway with several clients, expecting to supply samples to two to three customers by the end of 2025.
Industry experts suggest that SoulBrain's expertise extends beyond etching solutions, with experience producing deposition materials and polishing liquids crucial for semiconductor and display panel processes. This expertise gives SoulBrain a competitive edge as it collaborates with Samsung Electro-Mechanics. Additionally, Samsung Electro-Mechanics is working with Chemtronics and LPKF, a German glass processing company, to explore various manufacturing processes. These efforts are supported by technical expertise shared with Samsung Display, also part of the Samsung Group.
South Korean companies, including Samsung Electro-Mechanics, are not the only ones eyeing the glass substrate market. Absolics, a subsidiary of SK Group, is building its first glass substrate factory in Covington, Georgia, US, with support from the CHIPS Act. LG Innotek is also planning investments in this space, with trial production of glass substrates expected to begin by the end of 2025.