Advanced materials specialist KNW (CEO Won-seok Oh) will execute the KRW 10 billion raised from DS Asset Management and Hanyang Securities upon acquisition of Fluorine Korea as planned for facility investment (CAPEX) to improve quality and production capacity.

KNW announced on the 20th that it is investing in improving the quality and increasing production of F2 (fluorine) gas, a key material for semiconductor processes, at Fluorine Korea (formerly Solvay Korea Onsan Division), a chemical materials company that it incorporated as a subsidiary in March.

The company plans to invest in infrastructure facilities to improve quality, enhance production stability and diversify its business portfolio.

KNW explained that while Fluorine Korea's F2 gas production CAPA is currently sufficient, it is making investments to respond immediately to increased customer demand and to expand related businesses, and is also expanding the supply cylinders and filling facilities for F2 gas.

The quality improvement project in which KNW is investing focuses on developing and installing facilities to remove various impurities generated during the semiconductor gas manufacturing process.

The company expects that this project will help secure product competitiveness by achieving ultra-high purity of fluorine gas, and will also contribute to strengthening supply stability and improving yield in semiconductor processes.

K&W CEO Oh Won-seok said, “Fluorine Korea, which we acquired in March, is leading the company’s good performance thanks to the boom in the semiconductor industry and is establishing itself as a new growth engine,” adding, “We will continue to strengthen our quality competitiveness and lead the market.” “We will secure market share and achieve steady growth based on this,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fluorine Korea specializes in producing F2 gas and SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride), which are key materials in the semiconductor manufacturing process, and supplies them to semiconductor manufacturing companies around the world, including the world's top 1 and 2 foundry companies. Fluorine Korea's strategy is to build its own brand through an initial public offering (IPO) in the future.