Comprehensive equipment company SFA, which shifted its business focus to secondary batteries, unveiled new technologies in next-generation semiconductors and hydrogen fuel cells on Oct. 10. The plan is to uncover various next-generation growth engines.
SFA, which had been growing through its secondary battery business, has faced setbacks due to the prolonged electric vehicle chasm (temporary demand slowdown) and the bankruptcy of its key client, Sweden's Northvolt group, recognizing a one-time loss of 211.9 billion won (169.3 billion won from headquarters, 42.6 billion won from CIS) in the third quarter alone.
The company aims to extend its reach from the semiconductor logistics equipment market it has focused on to the semiconductor business, leveraging next-generation technologies as a springboard to enter the process, inspection, and measurement equipment markets. It also noted that it is preparing technologies in anticipation of the hydrogen economy's emergence in the renewable energy sector, which will create diverse growth opportunities beyond secondary batteries.
SFA is currently developing non-contact patterning technology for advanced packaging in its semiconductor business sector. This technology connects different types of semiconductors using fine wiring both vertically and horizontally to create a single semiconductor. The company explains that it can cater to both semiconductor high integration and high density needs. It is conducting joint evaluations of the related technology with its clients and expects progress in commercialization within 2 to 3 years.
In addition, the company is developing packaging technology in anticipation of the forecast that current printed circuit boards (PCBs) will be replaced by glass materials. Choi Kyo-won, head of SFA's research and development center, said, "Glass substrates, which have been called 'dream substrates' due to their excellent physical, electrical, and optical properties, have seen increasing yield rates lately, attracting various clients," adding, "The company has packaging technology that vertically layers semiconductors based on lasers."
To secure stable yield, a prerequisite for early mass production of new technologies, the company is also developing inspection and measurement technologies. Based on this, it believes that it will be able to enter the supply chain once the market opens in earnest.
SFA is also diving into the development of various technologies necessary for business expansion, anticipating that hydrogen fuel cells will sustain growth in the automotive and power generation sectors in the medium to long term. It has secured key technologies like precision coating technology specialized for hydrogen fuel cell production lines and micro-hole processing technology using ultra-fast lasers, built on its existing core capabilities in logistics systems for displays, secondary batteries, and semiconductors.
Given the one-time expenses related to the Northvolt bankruptcy, the company's fourth-quarter performance is expected to return to normal flow. However, the securities industry reports that the secondary battery business may not be free from the policy changes of the new Trump administration in the U.S. and the effects of the chasm.
According to financial information provider FnGuide, SFA is projected to achieve sales of 2.1162 trillion won this year, a 12.5% increase compared to last year. However, operating profit, which had been estimated to be over 200 billion won, is expected to be only 10.1 billion won.