This photo provided by SK Holdings Co. shows the semiconductor production line of Yes PowerTechnix Co. in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.
SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — SK Holdings Co., the holding firm of South Korean energy and telecom conglomerate SK Group, is moving into the silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor market.
SiC power semiconductors are one of the core components of electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel-cell automobiles.
The firm announced on Thursday that it had invested 26.8 billion won (US$24 million) to acquire a 33.6 percent stake in the Yes PowerTechnix Co., a local SiC power semiconductor maker.
Despite strong growth in demand, the number of companies that can mass-produce SiC power semiconductors is limited due to high technological barriers, resulting in a supply shortage worldwide.
SK Holdings said that since the market is dominated by a handful of large American and European semiconductor companies, there were voices that pointed out the urgent need to localize SiC power semiconductors.
Yes PowerTechnix was founded by a group of R&D professionals with more than 10 years of experience in SiC power semiconductor development.
With 23 SiC power semiconductor-related patents, the company has built up unrivaled technological capabilities in this area.
In particular, it established the nation’s first SiC power semiconductor mass-production system, including a production line featuring high temperature processing technology, with its annual production capacity estimated at up to 14,400 units.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
