BASF Inaugurates Electronic Materials Production Plant in South Korea

On November 27, BASF started operations at a new electronic materials production plant in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, South Korea. The new plant produces ultra-pure NH4OH (electronic-grade ammonia water) used in the semiconductor and display manufacturing processes. The facility is also now expanding its production of advanced mixtures for cleaning and etching solutions.
The new plant features an advanced analytics laboratory as well as the ultra-pure utilities that are designed to accommodate the future needs of leading electronics customers in the Korea market and abroad.
“Korea is a strategically important market for advanced electronic components, especially semiconductors and displays. The production facility ideally complements our local R&D presence in Korea, where we develop next-generation technologies in close partnership with our customers,” said Lothar Laupichler, Senior Vice President, BASF Electronic Materials.
Located on the southwest coast of Korea, the plant is equipped with BASF’s unique, cutting-edge manufacturing facilities including best-in-class quality analysis and quality management systems. Products from Yeosu will primarily be used for next generation microchips designed in single-digit nodes with less than 10 nanometers.
“The investment addresses three core customer requirements: ensure fast-track ramp-up of chemical solutions from lab-scale to mass production, provide reliable supply, and deliver consistent product quality that meets and exceeds the ever-increasing purity requirements for next generation semiconductor and display technologies,” Laupichler added.
The production plant for electronic materials in Yeosu marks a key milestone in establishing an integrated hub to serve the electronics industry. This strategy includes the BASF Electronic Materials Asia Pacific Regional Headquarters in Seoul, set up in 2013, and establishing the Regional Electronic Materials R&D Center Asia located in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, the following year.