SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS

Samsung Electro-Mechanics CEO Chang Duckhyun held a press meeting on January 8 (local time) in Las Vegas, unveiling the company’s new business plans under the theme “Painting the ‘Future’: Samsung Electro-Mechanics’ ‘Mi-RAE’ New Business.” 

* Mobility industry, Robot, AI/Server, Energy

During the conference, CEO Chang emphasized, “The electronics industry has moved beyond the ‘IT Platform 1.0’ centered on mobile devices and entered the ‘IT Platform 2.0’ era led by mobility devices, “ and added, “The realization of future industry technologies is only possible with a foundation in components and materials. This presents a new growth opportunity for Samsung Electro-Mechanics, which possesses core technologies in these fields.”

Chang stated, “Samsung Electro-Mechanics will not miss future growth opportunities by successfully developing new businesses in AI/server, automotive, energy, and robotics sectors.”

[New Business Plan]

Samsung Electro-Mechanics is developing new energy-related technologies by leveraging ceramic material technology and process technologies such as stacking and sintering obtained from its MLCC business. The company is making significant progress in the all-solid-state battery business, which replaces the liquid electrolyte in batteries with a solid one. The all-solid-state battery being developed by Samsung Electro-Mechanics uses an oxide-based solid electrolyte with high material stability. Due to its high degree of shape flexibility, it is expected to replace lithium batteries in small IT devices such as wearable devices.

CEO Chang Duckhyun stated, “Our all-solid-state battery has secured the highest level of energy density and capacity characteristics in the industry.” He added, “We plan to invest in mass production facilities this year to supply prototypes, and expand product applications by 2026.”

Silicon capacitors are capacitors made using silicon wafers, allowing for slimmer designs in semiconductor packages and positioning them closer to high-performance system semiconductors, which is advantageous for high-speed data transmission. They offer the benefits of high storage capacity in a small size and stable performance under conditions such as high temperature and pressure.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics began supplying silicon capacitor samples to customers last year and plans to mass-produce silicon capacitors for high-performance semiconductor packages and AI servers this year.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics, a leader in camera technology for high-end smartphones, is expanding its lens and optical design expertise from the IT sector to automotive applications. The company has developed hybrid lenses for automotive cameras that combine the advantages of plastic and glass lenses, differentiating them from traditional all-glass lens products. These hybrid lenses are resistant to deformation from high temperatures and scratches, offer high production efficiency, and facilitate miniaturization and weight reduction of cameras. Samsung Electro-Mechanics plans to mass-produce hybrid lenses for surround view monitoring (SVM) and driver monitoring systems (DMS) starting this year, positioning itself as a frontrunner in the automotive camera market. 

In high-value industries such as servers and networks, the semiconductor sector is demanding advancements in package substrate technology to enhance semiconductor performance such as stacking multiple chips on a single substrate. 

Samsung Electro-Mechanics is developing semiconductor package substrates using glass materials. By changing the core of the substrate from plastic to glass, it minimizes deformation due to temperature fluctuations and offers excellent signal characteristics, making it advantageous for miniaturization and large-area applications. It is expected to grow primarily in high-end products such as server CPUs and AI accelerators. Samsung Electro-Mechanics has established a pilot line at its Sejong business site and plans to begin mass production by 2027 through customer sample promotions in 2025.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics is preparing to develop SOEC (Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell) and SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) technologies, which are essential green energy solutions for the carbon-neutral era. The SOEC technology being developed by Samsung Electro-Mechanics electrolyzes water to produce hydrogen at temperatures exceeding 700°C, utilizing ceramic materials that serve as the raw material for MLCC. The SOFC uses the same cells and stacks as the SOEC, sharing the same physical structure. It operates in reverse to the SOEC, reacting hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, allowing for simultaneous hydrogen production and power generation from the same stack. 

Samsung Electro-Mechanics plans to secure Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) technology, a key technology for green hydrogen production, by 2025. Following the development of stacked cells in 2026, the company aims to begin mass production by 2027. The developed cell and stack technologies will also be applicable to Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC), with plans for simultaneous commercialization.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics is developing new technologies utilizing its expertise in optical design, precision processing, and motion control to address the humanoid robotics field, a next-generation platform.

The company is advancing the development of various technologies, including package substrates for system/AI data processing, camera modules for MLCC and sensing applications, and actuators that incorporate power supply and drive technologies.