Establishment of mass production system next month, including of additional equipment
SMG Materials will increase the production of silicon (Si) rings used in semiconductor etching processes by up to five times. In line with the growing demand for semiconductors, the demand for silicon rings, a consumable part, has also risen, and they decided to increase the supply.
SMG Materials recently decided to increase the production of silicon ingots, which produce silicon ring materials, from 20 runs per month to a maximum of 100 runs. ‘Run’ is used as a unit of process for silicon rings production that include cutting and other manufacturing process. For each ‘Run’, they can produce up to hundreds of silicon rings.
An official of SMG Materials said, "To expand production, we are introducing additional transport robotics equipment and diamond sawing equipment that cuts ingots. We will be able to establish a large-scale mass production system from August." The company predicted that it would be possible to produce 10,000 units of silicon rings per month by expanding its mass production capacity.
The silicon ring is a part that serves to fix the wafer so that it does not move in the equipment during the semiconductor manufacturing process. It is divided into a focus ring that allows plasma to be concentrated at a precise location in the semiconductor equipment chamber, and an edge ring that accurately positions the wafer and serves as a focus ring assistant.
As the demand for consumable parts has recently increased, the demand for consumable parts such as silicon rings is also increasing rapidly.
An official from SMG Materials explained, “As semiconductor manufacturers expand their production capacity through facility investment, the demand for consumable parts is also increasing. In order to respond to this, we are promptly increasing our supply.”
SMG Materials supplies the processed silicon ring to semiconductor component companies affiliated with large domestic companies. SMG Materials completes the silicon ring through finishing process and delivers it to the semiconductor manufacturer. SMG Materials, established at the end of 2019, was selected as an excellent partner of the relevant parts company within two years and secured a stable customer base.
By Staff Reporter Dong-jun Kwon (djkwon@etnews.com)