News: Suppliers
6 March 2020
SK Siltron completes acquisition of DuPont’s SiC wafer division
Silicon wafer supplier SK Siltron of Gumi, South Korea has completed the acquisition of the silicon carbide wafer (SiC Wafer) unit of Delaware-based DuPont Electronics & Imaging (E&I). The acquisition was decided through a board meeting in September and closed on 29 February.
The $450m acquisition is regarded as a global technology investment to meet demand from consumers and governments for sustainable energy and environmental solutions. SK Siltron will continue to invest in related fields even after the acquisition, which is expected to increase SiC wafer production and create additional jobs in the USA. The primary site for the business is in Auburn, MI, about 120 miles north of Detroit.
Demand for power semiconductors is rapidly increasing as automakers are entering the electric vehicle (EV) market and telecom companies are expanding ultra-fast 5G networks. High hardness, heat resistance and the ability to withstand high voltages mean that SiC wafers can yield power semiconductors for EVs and 5G networks where energy efficiency is important.
Through this acquisition, SK Siltron expects to maximize R&D and production capabilities and synergy between its current major businesses, while securing new growth engines by entering rapidly expanding areas.
SK Siltron is South Korea’s only producer of silicon wafers and one of the top five global wafer manufacturers, with annual sales of 1.542 trillion won, accounting for about 17% of global sales of silicon wafers (300mm-diameter equivalent). SK Siltron has overseas subsidiaries and offices in five locations –the USA, Japan, China, Europe and Taiwan. Established in 2001, the US subsidiary sells silicon wafers to eight customers, including Intel and Micron.
SK Siltron is an affiliate company of Seoul-based SK Group, South Korea’s third-largest conglomerate. SK Group has made North America a global hub, with its investments in the USA in batteries for electric vehicles, biopharmaceuticals, materials, energy, chemicals and ICT, reaching $5bn in investment in the USA over the past three years.
DuPont divests Compound Semiconductor Solutions business to SK Siltron
