LG Chem announced on July 5 that it will begin mass-producing semiconductor strippers for Amkor, a global leader in semiconductor back-end services (OSAT) based in the U.S. This marks LG Chem’s strategic entry into the semiconductor stripper market, expanding its product portfolio.
Amkor is a global frontrunner in the semiconductor back-end sector, offering packaging and testing services to major semiconductor companies.
Strippers are essential in semiconductor manufacturing, removing photoresist (PR) and residues from substrates after circuit formation. As circuits become increasingly miniaturized, the importance of advanced stripper technology has come to the forefront.
Drawing on its expertise and customer relationships from its display stripper business, LG Chem has successfully entered the semiconductor stripper market. The company demonstrated its competitive edge by passing rigorous technical validations from global OSAT firms with its inaugural product.
LG Chem’s offering is a custom-tailored stripper optimized for Amkor’s new production lines. It boasts a 50% reduction in photoresist and residue removal time, significantly enhancing process efficiency.
The surge in artificial intelligence (AI) investments and growing demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) have spurred increased investment in advanced packaging, underscoring the critical role of high-performance process materials.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kim Dong-choon stated that the partnership with Amkor, a world-class back-end processor, will allow them to further enhance the competitive edge in developing customized materials optimized for the clients’ processes.
In a related development, LG Chem unveiled a strategy in March to more than double its electronic materials business. The company is bolstering its semiconductor packaging material portfolio, including copper-clad laminates (CCL), die attach films (DAF), and photosensitive insulating materials (PID), to accelerate growth in the high-value electronic materials sector.
Specifically, LG Chem aims to expand its electronic materials business from its current value of approximately 1 trillion KRW (652 million USD) to 2 trillion KRW (1.3 billion USD) by 2030. To achieve this ambitious goal, the company has identified semiconductors, electric vehicles, and next-generation displays as core focus areas for electronic materials. It has also consolidated and established dedicated research and development teams under its Advanced Materials Research Institute.