Samsung Electronics is expected to soon finalize the dispatch of engineers for its foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) plant located in Taylor, Texas, next year. It is also understood that equipment orders will begin in the second half of this year. With significant investment in next-generation DRAM facilities as well as the long-delayed introduction of equipment for the Taylor plant, which was initially expected to take place a year earlier, the semiconductor equipment industry is projected to benefit.
◇ Rapid production preparation in contract with Tesla
According to industry reports on the 25th, Samsung Electronics is expected to commence equipment orders for the Taylor plant's operation in the second half of this year. The company plans to complete the 'cleanroom' construction of the production line in November and begin receiving equipment sequentially from next year. Samsung Electronics is reportedly planning to invest in facilities to achieve a production capacity of up to 30,000 wafers per month at the Taylor plant. The dispatch workforce, which may reach up to 30 personnel per foundry process, is also expected to be confirmed. With a large-volume contract for mass production secured with Tesla and others, Samsung Electronics is accelerating the establishment of its production line.
Unlike the domestic production base with both memory semiconductor and foundry production lines, the Samsung Electronics Taylor plant is focused solely on foundry operations. Equipment orders were initially anticipated to take place in the second half of last year, but the foundry's poor orders led to a delay of nearly a year. However, with Samsung Electronics recently securing a large-scale semiconductor supply from Tesla, it is expected to enter into mass orders. On the 28th of last month, Samsung Electronics announced that it had signed a semiconductor supply contract worth 23 trillion won with Tesla.
An industry official noted, "Unlike last year, Samsung Electronics is quickly recruiting dispatch personnel, allowing for a more expedited operation of the Taylor plant," and added, "Equipment orders are expected to begin when the dispatch personnel are finalized."
◇ Completion of cleanroom construction expected in November… Equipment to be delivered sequentially from next year
Following the investment in next-generation DRAM facilities at its Pyeongtaek campus, Samsung Electronics is also expected to accelerate investments in production lines at the Taylor plant, benefiting domestic semiconductor corporations. The company is expected to complete the installation of the cleanroom for semiconductor materials, equipment, and components in November, and to commence equipment orders. It is anticipated that equipment orders will begin with process automation equipment for transporting, classifying, and storing semiconductor wafers inside the cleanroom, followed by front-end equipment such as lithography and deposition, and back-end equipment for measurements. The front-end refers to the process of etching circuits onto the wafer to complete chips, while the back-end refers to packaging and testing the completed chips to produce final products.
Starting with SFA Engineering Corporation, which usually installs process automation equipment first in cleanrooms, the delivery of front-end equipment with high revenue shares from Samsung Electronics, such as Eugene Technology, WONIK IPS, and PSK, is expected to begin. Additionally, other back-end equipment manufacturers, like Park Systems, are also projected to benefit. Eugene Technology and WONIK IPS supply deposition equipment that applies the necessary materials in thin film form to the semiconductor wafer to impart electrical characteristics. PSK provides cleaning equipment that removes remaining photoresist from the semiconductor wafer. Park Systems supplies circuit inspection equipment.
According to financial information provider FnGuide, the operating profit projections for Eugene Technology and WONIK IPS for next year are 101.8 billion won and 118.4 billion won, respectively, representing increases of 40.2% and 32.4% compared to this year's estimates. The projected operating profits for PSK and Park Systems for next year are 96.3 billion won and 68.6 billion won, showing anticipated increases of 12% and 27.7%, respectively, compared to this year. A semiconductor equipment industry official said, "It is estimated that ancillary equipment will start arriving by the end of this year, followed by sequential deliveries of process equipment in the first half of next year."