SEOUL, South Korea, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LG unveiled the Dream Factory, a hub for the production of FC-BGAs (Flip Chip Ball Grid Arrays), the company’s next-generation growth engine, to the media for the first time and announced it on the 30th April.

In 2022, LG Innotek announced its plans to launch a business producing FC-BGAs, high-value semiconductor substrates. To build the Dream Factory, the company acquired LG Electronics’ Gumi 4 Factory and began full-scale mass production in February 2024.

The Dream Factory, spanning a total area of 26,000 square meters, is regarded as the industry’s most advanced “smart” factory, integrating the latest IT technologies, including artificial intelligence, deep learning, robotics, and digital twin technologies. By applying automation, information, and intelligence technologies to the entire process, it has established a cutting-edge FC-BGA production infrastructure that eliminates the four major factors known to undermine production competitiveness: human error (Man), failure cost(F-cost), breakdown maintenance (BM) loss, and accidents.

“Elimination of defects caused by human contact” through automation of all processes and logistics using robots

For semiconductor substrate products such as FC-BGAs, which require a highly demanding ultra-fine process, even the smallest foreign objects (eyelash, saliva, etc.) can cause quality issues. Therefore, it is crucial to minimize human contact with products during production.

To this end, LG Innotek has introduced a completely automated logistics system at the Dream Factory, where coming across a person is a rare event. Apart from essential personnel, such as equipment maintenance and repair workers, all 10 steps of the FC-BGA production and logistics processes are unmanned.

Dozens of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) move materials around the production line autonomously. When a production order is placed, which is done automatically, based on the customer’s delivery timeframe entered in the RTS (real-time schedule), the AMRs transport the raw materials to the process facility. Once the barcode on the raw material is detected, also done automatically, by the machine, the process recipe is automatically set on the equipment according to the product specifications through the recipe management system (RMS), after which the product processing begins. The AMRs are also responsible for loading the finished product back into the stocker.

In addition, the process of peeling off the protective film from the panel (film detach) is also replaced by a robot. This enables the early prevention of fine scratches and defects caused by foreign objects such as dust particles and foreign substances. The construction of non-touch production facilities, involving such equipment as collaborative robots, in the entire process has significantly reduced mishandling by workers.

Unmanned AI-based FC-BGA quality inspection, enhancing customer confidence by ensuring quality “transparency”

The Dream Factory generates more than 200,000 files and 100GB of data related to FC-BGA production every day. LG Innotek collects this data throughout the production process through sensors installed in all of its facilities.  By applying AI, which continuously learns from this big data, to the defect prediction and inspection system, the company has significantly reduced the lead time caused by defects.

In addition, LG Innotek has applied an AI deep learning vision inspection system to the Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) process, which is the most important step in determining whether a product is of good quality. Tirelessly, the robot moves the finished FC-BGA board products to the vision screening inspection table. Next, the AI, which has been trained on tens of thousands of data points on defective and good quality FC-BGAs, detects micro-level defects that are challenging to identify with the naked eye, and it does so in only 30 seconds.

LG Innotek is operating a further advanced AOI process. In the room next to the AOI equipment for faulty circuits, there is a much larger robot and inspection system. Called Line Quality Control (LQC), it can automatically check whether the various specifications (thickness, size, etc.) of the product requested by the customer have been fulfilled. The inspection data is immediately sent to the customer, ensuring product quality transparency, which leads to higher customer confidence. This industry-leading sophistication of LG Innotek’s AOI equipment has been cited as one of the most impressive aspects of the factory by the global customers who have visited it.

AI can identify defective products, and since every product has a barcode that tracks its process history, products that are deemed defective are automatically filtered out without the need for human intervention, reducing F-costs by more than 50%.

Additionally, AI has been applied to the digital simulation system, which prevents product defects and equipment failures. Previously, the process of workers manually checking products for defects and identifying which machines were faulty and how to repair them in response to defects required a lot of time. This can now be significantly improved.

By 2026, LG Innotek plans to introduce an intelligent Quality Management System (i-QMS) that detects and analyzes quality irregularities during production in real time and automatically corrects them. The company plans to automate the entire FC-BGA production process, especially by developing a platform that uses digital twin technology to share information on all processes, from product development to production, with customers in real time to enhance customer responsiveness.

Optimized FC-BGA process equipment using digital twin technology, “halving the ramp-up period”

Since even the smallest variables can lead to poor performance in FC-BGAs, equipment optimized for mass production and process recipes and production environments set to perfect values are fundamental to achieving high yields.

The FC-BGA process equipment installed in the Dream Factory is set to optimal conditions through digital twin technology. In the past, identifying optimal conditions for the FC-BGA process required a lot of time and money, along with hundreds of tests. Before building the facility, LG Innotek managed to identify problems with the initial setup of the FC-BGA process facility in advance by conducting a “factory simulation” using 3D modelling in virtual space. This enabled the facility to be carefully set for optimal conditions, such as liquid, heat, and air flow, which were difficult to measure inside the actual facility. As a result, the ramp-up period (increase in production capacity by improving initial production yields) was shortened by nearly half compared to the previous operation period.

In addition, digital twin technology is applied to the Line Monitoring System (LMS), which monitors production status in real time. The real-time monitoring system enables users to monitor the production line currently in operation, product movement, inventory status, equipment irregularities, production performance, and product quality status at a glance on the large screen of the integrated control room where the LMS is installed. This makes it possible to respond immediately in the event of any irregularity.

Internalization of glass core technology, step-by-step entry into the high-end FC-BGA market: “Fostering the business into 700 million USD business by 2030″

Over the past 50 years, LG Innotek has accumulated core technologies for high-value semiconductor substrates, such as ultra-fine microcircuits and high-density, multi-layer substrate matching technology (stacking multiple substrate layers accurately and evenly), through its substrate material components business.

Based on this know-how, the company began full-scale mass production of FC-BGAs for personal computers (PCs) for North American big-tech customers at the end of last year and recently succeeded in securing additional global big-tech clients. This year, LG Innotek aims to enter the FC-BGA market for PC central processing units (CPUs). Its strategy is to enter the high-end FC-BGA market in phases, including entering the server FC-BGA market as early as 2026. In preparation for this, LG Innotek has already acquired facilities that are essential in the manufacturing of FC-BGA products for servers, such as “edge coating” that blocks the generation of dust particles.

In line with this goal, LG Innotek will also accelerate the development of next-generation substrate technologies in collaboration with global big-tech clients. By 2027, the company plans to internalize technologies such as re-distribution layer (RDL) technology, which engraves microcircuit patterns directly onto the substrate; device embedding technology, which minimizes power loss by embedding devices into the substrate; and multi-layer core (MLC) and glass core (glass substrate) technologies, which prevent warping when implementing large-area substrates. In particular, LG Innotek has been promoting glass substrates by strengthening its collaboration with global customers.

Minseok Kang, vice president and head of LG Innotek’s Substrate & Material Business Unit, said, “LG Innotek will continue to expand the production of FC-BGAs that provide exceptional customer value based on its state-of-the-art Dream Factory and develop the FC-BGA business into 700 million USD business by 2030.”

According to the Fuji Chimera Research Institute, the size of the global FC-BGA market is expected to more than double from USD 8 billion in 2022 to USD 16.4 billion in 2030.

[Glossary]

FC-BGA (Flip Chip Ball Grid Array): This is a semiconductor substrate that is widely applied to electronic devices equipped with semiconductor chips (CPU, GPU, AI chips, etc.) that perform various computing functions. Demand for high-performance semiconductor substrates is growing rapidly due to increased data throughput, higher semiconductor processing speeds, and the need for low-power semiconductors. For these reasons, FC-BGAs have a larger area and more layers than conventional semiconductor substrates. They are also known to have high barriers to market entry because they require top-level facilities and technologies to produce.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/lg-innotek-to-build-fc-bga-into-700-million-usd-business-by-2030-with-its-state-of-the-art-dream-factory-302450934.html

SOURCE LG Innotek

TAIPEI, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — GIGABYTE, the world’s leading computer brand, announces the launch of the AI TOP 100 Z890, a desktop PC tailored for both gaming and AI computing, now available in Taiwan market. Designed to deliver extreme performance, the AI TOP 100 Z890 is powered by the Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 285K processor, the Z890 AI TOP motherboard, and the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5090 graphics card, optimizing for AI workloads and high-performance gaming. Combined with the pre-installed Windows 11 operating system, users can access AI computing with a standard power setup and plug-and-play convenience.

At the core of the AI TOP 100 Z890 is an Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 285K CPU featuring built-in AI Boost NPU, paired with D5 Bionic Corsa technology-enhanced GIGABYTE 128GB DDR5 memory, and the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX™ 5090 WINDFORCE graphics card that supports NVIDIA DLSS 4.0 and Multi Frame Generation. The system also includes an ultra-fast AORUS Gen4 7300 SSD and a GIGABYTE 320GB AI TOP 100E cache drive offering up to 150x TBW compared to standard SSDs and ideal for high-volume data training. The cooling system plays a crucial role under heavy workloads, while the AORUS WATERFORCE II 360 liquid cooler and AORUS AC500G ST AI TOP chassis offer stable operation even under intensive loads.

The AI TOP Utility is a reinvented and intuitive software for managing AI workflows. Supporting memory offloading and fine-tuning for LLMs and LMMs up to 405B parameters, the software allows users to choose AI models with RAG, create datasets, track training progress via a real-time dashboard, and validate models. It also enables multi-node clustering via Thunderbolt and Ethernet, empowering users to scale performance as needed.

The GIGABYTE AI TOP 100 Z890 is built for gamers, developers, researchers, or AI hobbyists seeking a ready-to-go solution to gaming and AI computing. Visit GIGABYTE official website for full specifications and more information.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/gigabyte-announces-the-premium-gaming-and-ai-computing-solution-ai-top-100-z890-now-available-302449872.html

SOURCE GIGABYTE

SEOUL, South Korea, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In an era of escalating climate crisis, the world is placing ‘carbon neutrality’ at the forefront of global discourse. Countries around the world have pledged to submit detailed action plans to the United Nations by establishing Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. They continue to make steady efforts by expanding the adoption of renewable energy and implementing various alternatives to reduce carbon emissions.

However, despite the global trend toward energy transition, the demand for petroleum as a major fossil fuel remains solid. In particular, because gasoline, which is the most widely used, has a boiling point of only 23°C, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are inevitably released during storage and transportation. These VOCs contain carcinogens like benzene and toluene that can cause serious illnesses once they enter the human body.

In the midst of this challenge, a groundbreaking technology that reduces the emission of VOCs and carbon dioxide has been developed in South Korea. The company behind this innovation is ECOMAGIC Co., Ltd., recognized as a leading enterprise in the field of eco-friendly renewable energy and carbon reduction projects.

For the past 11 years, ECOMAGIC has been dedicated to developing the ‘Vapor Liquefaction Treatment System’, a technology that ensures gasoline can be used wisely, without threatening human life and instead contributing positively to the environment. Together with POSCO INTERNATIONAL, a company with a global network, ECOMAGIC has taken a significant step toward advancing carbon neutrality practices.

POSCO INTERNATIONAL is steadily developing greenhouse gas and carbon emission reduction projects in response to climate change and is moving forward with the goal of reinvesting corporate profits back into society through its ESG initiatives.

Interview with Mr. Wooho Kim, Head of POSCO INTERNATIONAL Thailand

1. We heard that you made significant efforts to introduce ECOMAGIC’s Vapor Liquefaction Treatment System into the Thai market. Could you share the background behind it?

“POSCO INTERNATIONAL Thailand has been continuously monitoring the Thai government’s efforts to strengthen environmental regulations and achieve carbon neutrality goals. In particular, vapor emissions generated during the storage and distribution of gasoline have become a major cause of air pollution and health issues, creating a clear need for effective solutions.

ECOMAGIC’s Vapor Liquefaction Treatment System is an innovative product capable of addressing these challenges. It significantly reduces vapor emissions compared to conventional methods and helps prevent gasoline losses, offering notable economic benefits as well. As part of our strategy to strengthen ESG management and expand our sustainable energy business in the Thai market, POSCO INTERNATIONAL decided to actively promote the introduction and sales of this product.”

2. What is your outlook on the market potential for vapor liquefaction recovery systems at gas stations in Thailand?

“Thailand is one of the major petroleum-consuming countries in ASEAN, with annual gasoline consumption exceeding 30 billion liters. As a result, vapor emissions generated during the gasoline distribution process have become a serious issue, and the Thai government is actively promoting various policies to reduce air pollution.

Major refiners and gas station operators in Thailand are strengthening their ESG management and showing strong interest in adopting new technologies aimed at improving energy efficiency and protecting the environment. In particular, vapor recovery and liquefaction technologies are effective in reducing fuel losses and responding to tightening environmental regulations, which suggests there will be strong demand in the Thai market moving forward.

POSCO INTERNATIONAL plans to strengthen collaboration with major gas stations and petroleum distributors in Thailand through its partnership with ECOMAGIC.”

3. What other projects is POSCO INTERNATIONAL pursuing to support carbon neutrality? 

“As a global integrated business company, POSCO INTERNATIONAL is promoting a wide range of eco-friendly projects aimed at building a sustainable future.

We are contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating the energy transition through solar and wind power generation, and supporting the shift to green energy by establishing supply chains for low-carbon hydrogen and eco-friendly ammonia.

In addition, we are advancing carbon emission reduction initiatives by utilizing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies, moving one step closer to achieving carbon neutrality.

Through these diverse ESG initiatives, POSCO INTERNATIONAL is committed to pursuing sustainable growth and will continue to strengthen its efforts toward carbon neutrality in both the Thai and global markets.”

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2682658/IMAGE.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ecomagic-co-ltd-and-posco-international-sign-exclusive-sales-agreement-for-thailand-on-a-core-technology-for-achieving-carbon-neutrality-in-the-petroleum-energy-sector-302450143.html