China and Japan are ‘drooling’ after South Korea`s original Light Emitting Diode(LED) technology. They are on a ‘technology hunt’ after all LED related sources from raw materials such as LED heat radiation material, sapphire ingot to LED chip manufacturing method for next generation. Concerns for LED technology leakage to foreign countries are growing.
Recently Chinese and Japanese business are pouring in requests to domestic LED related businesses to transfer technologies to them.
LED heat radiant business Soluna has received requests to transfer technologies and acquiring workers from Japanese material company. It is company with Metal Copper Clad Laminates (MCCL) technology that has high heat conduction.
Soluna Representative Hosung Kim said, “We have been acknowledged for our heat radiant material field technology by other foreign companies and have received multiple requests to pass on the technology. To respond to the global demand, we need to invest in expanding our facility but we are trying to receive investments within domestic companies so that we may grow up to be global company.”
Sapphire ingot manufacturing companies are receiving ‘love calls’ from Chinese companies as well. It is because the quality of sapphire ingots produced in China is far lower quality than Korea’s. With Czochralski method last year, NC SAPPHIRE CO. succeeded in creating 8 inch large caliber sapphire ingot. This company is discussing with China local government about technology transfer and building factory facilities and investments.
Poshial, which Posco decided to dispose, will be fought between Chinese companies to take over. Poshial produces high purity aluminum products, which is the raw material for sapphire ingot.
LED chip manufacturing field is no exception. Semicon Light that has the original technology for ‘flip chip LED’ has Chinese companies visiting them frequently
Related official said, “Domestic LED technologies are sought after and considered high tech. Therefore we must be careful with our technology and especially when working with foreign companies.”
Staff Reporter Sung, Hyeonhee | sunghh@etnews.com