“Precision cleaning and special coating are more important for semiconductor high-integration”

Comico to introduce latest eco-friendly technologies at SEMICON Korea 2022
“Semiconductor cleaning and coating require increasingly higher technology and advanced facilities”

[Editor's Note] The semiconductor industry is continuing to grow due to the development of the 4th industrial revolution. As semiconductors are needed in various industrial fields, the semiconductor production market is also expected to expand. In the midst of this, Comico, a semiconductor cleaning and coating technology specialist, participated in 'Semicon Korea 2022' held at COEX from the 9th to the 11th. Our magazine has prepared an opportunity to learn about Comico's latest cleaning and coating technology and industry trends through an interview with Comico CEO Yong-ha Choi.

■ Please introduce Comico.

Comico is a domestic cleaning and coating company with the largest market share, having developed and commercialized cleaning and coating technologies for the first time in Korea in 1996.

In 2005, in order to expand into overseas markets, the company established local production corporations in the United States, China, Taiwan, and Singapore, and is growing into a global cleaning and coating company with quality recognized by semiconductor manufacturers around the world.

▲Choi Yong-ha, CEO of Comico

■ Please introduce Comico’s main technologies for precision cleaning and special coating of semiconductor equipment and parts.

During the semiconductor production process, contaminants or particles may be generated in the chamber of the equipment and deposited on the manufacturing equipment chamber parts, which may affect the yield.

Precision cleaning is a technology that removes contaminated substances without damaging the parts, thereby extending the life of the parts. Not only does it contribute to reducing the cost of our customers, but it also seeks to stabilize the quality of the semiconductor manufacturing process by restoring and improving the surface of parts to suit each process condition.

In addition, special coating is a technology that can be applied to the surface of semiconductor equipment chamber parts to stabilize the semiconductor process and extend the life of the product.

By developing and providing various coating technologies optimized for the customer's process, we can suppress particle generation and surface damage and stabilize the process conditions of the chamber, thereby improving semiconductor mass production yield and equipment operation rate.

■ I would like to hear about Comico’s market situation and business plans for this year.

The semiconductor industry is expected to continue to grow this year compared to last year, and semiconductor production is also expected to increase due to the growth of various industries such as 5G commercialization, large-capacity smartphones, high-capacity data centers, IoT, electric vehicles, and autonomous vehicles.

In addition, as semiconductor chips become more highly integrated, component cleaning and coating technologies are becoming more important, and as high technological prowess and advanced facilities are required, the barriers to entry are also increasing.
Accordingly, it is expected to grow by more than 15% compared to last year, and in the long term, it is aiming to increase the company's cost competitiveness and quality competitiveness through continuous development of new technologies, and to achieve sales of KRW 400 billion and a global M/S of 50% by 2025 through transparent and clean management.

■ Please introduce the products or technologies exhibited at ‘SEMICON Korea 2022’.

Comico introduced various newly developed Thin Film Coatings and eco-friendly cleaning technologies at ‘SEMICON Korea 2022’.

We hope that the application of new technologies will further contribute to our customers' semiconductor mass production.
br /> ■ Lastly, please say a word to the readers.

Comico is a global powerhouse in Korea with high technological prowess and cost competitiveness, and has the top 10 domestic and international semiconductor manufacturers as its clients.

This year, we will not be complacent about our achievements so far and will strive for further growth both domestically and internationally.

thank you