Hamamatsu Photonics acquired a 55% stock share in HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS KOREA Co., Ltd. in the Republic of Korea (hereafter Korea), which is a new company where Hamamatsu Photonics has shifted its local sales distributor activities. This new company is now a subsidiary in Korea and aims to further increase sales in the Asian region by strengthening the sales structure for Imaging and Measurement Instruments business in Korea and responding to the demands of Korean semiconductor manufacturers.
The Korean semiconductor industry has seen rapid growth since the 1990’s. Currently, Korean semiconductor manufacturers have a high share in the semiconductor memory chip market, yet they are also taking measures to expand their share in the market of logic chips that have higher added value. Korean semiconductor manufacturers are likely to expand their business even further with the full-on spread of AI (artificial intelligence) technology and 5G (fifth generation wireless technology for digital cellular networks) as well as a recovery in business investments in data centers.
Hamamatsu Photonics has been selling Imaging and Measurement Instruments such as failure analysis systems for semiconductor memory chips via local sales distributors in Korea.
The new company formed this time as a local subsidiary took over the sales and service activities of Korean sales distributor MODOO TEK Co., Ltd (hereafter MDT) and is aimed at expanding sales of failure analysis systems not only for semiconductor memories but also for logic devices by directly grasping and meeting the needs of semiconductor manufacturers. Another goal is to win orders for Imaging and Measurement Instruments such as inspection instruments for micro LED chips that are the focus of recent attention for the next generation displays and measurement instruments for semiconductor manufacturing processes. In this way, within 4 years Hamamatsu Photonics intends to double the sales of Imaging and Measurement Instruments currently made through MDT and achieve annual sales of 2 billion yen from the local subsidiary. Other goals include further sales expansion in the Asian region via business links with subsidiaries in China and Taiwan.
The new company was established on December 30th, 2019 on the premise that Hamamatsu Photonics would form a local subsidiary there. On March 6th this year, Hamamatsu Photonics acquired a 55% stock of the new company and plans to raise its investment ratio in consecutive steps. Also, Hamamatsu Photonics currently markets and sells products such as electron tube products and opto-semiconductor devices through separate sales distributors, but is assessing making future sales through the local subsidiary. Hamamatsu Photonics will also build up a system for R&D work on prototype devices on a local level to effectively meet customer issues and needs.
