Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Sumitomo Chemical Form Joint Venture for Glass Substrates

Samsung Electro-Mechanics is partnering with Japan's Sumitomo Chemical Group to create a joint venture focused on producing "glass core," a key material for glass substrates. The new entity, provisionally named "GlaSSEM," represents a significant investment of 480 billion won. Samsung Electro-Mechanics will own 66% of the venture, while Dongwoo Fine-Chem, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical, will hold the remaining 34%. The joint venture's headquarters and production facilities will be located at Dongwoo Fine-Chem's site in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. The companies aim to finalize the legal establishment of the corporation within the year, followed by the construction of production facilities and process stabilization. Full-scale operations are targeted for the second half of next year. This strategic move is designed to bolster competitiveness in the glass substrate market and respond effectively to increasing demand. Glass substrates are considered next-generation materials, offering advantages over traditional plastic substrates due to their superior flatness and reduced thermal deformation, making them ideal for semiconductor packaging in AI servers and high-performance computing (HPC).