GUMI — LG Innotek has launched its “Dream Factory” in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, aimed at becoming a key player in the semiconductor substrate market. The facility spans 26,000 square meters, equivalent to approximately three soccer fields, and is designed with advanced technologies such as AI, deep learning, and robotics.
This factory represents LG Innotek’s flagship hub for the production of flip-chip ball grid array (FC-BGA), an essential semiconductor package substrate. Since entering this line of business in 2022, the company has made significant strides, with mass production kicking off in February of the previous year.
The Dream Factory focuses on automation and minimal human intervention in manufacturing processes. By eliminating four major factors that typically impact efficiency—manpower, costs of failure, equipment breakdowns, and safety incidents—the factory claims to redefine production standards.
Upon entering the facility, visitors must adhere to strict hygiene protocols, reflecting the ultraclean environment crucial for producing sensitive chip components. Observations within the factory reveal a sophisticated line monitoring system that provides real-time data on equipment status, production efficiency, and inventory tracking.
Autonomous robots play a pivotal role, effortlessly transporting raw materials to production areas, with systems automatically adjusting equipment settings based on scanned barcodes. This degree of precision boosts efficiency and reduces defects.
Consistently, the factory generates substantial data, over 100 gigabytes daily, which is analyzed by AI systems to enhance production quality. An LG Innotek official noted, ‘AI-powered vision inspections have helped reduce lead times and man-hours drastically, while also minimizing costs.’
The company plans to implement a comprehensive intelligent quality management system by next year, aiming for fully automated FC-BGA production.
With a history of over five decades in substrate materials, LG Innotek possesses the necessary technological foundations to expand further into the FC-BGA market. They anticipate strong demand from advancements in AI and semiconductor performance, projecting the market to reach approximately $7.97 billion by 2024.
With this new facility, LG Innotek is poised to enhance its production capacity and maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving semiconductor landscape.
