Invest 10 billion yen!

On July 11, according to the Japanese media Chemical Industry Daily, eChem Solutions Japan Co.
, Ltd.
, a manufacturer of photoresist materials for display, announced its official entry into the Chinese market
.

eChem Solutions Japan invested about 10 billion yen (approximately RMB 490 million) to build in Chongqing for TFT (Thin Film Transistor, hereinafter referred to as "TFT") and PLP (Panel Level Package, the following Referred to as "PLP"), the photoresist factory plans to prepare a mass production system with a monthly production capacity of 1,000 tons by the end of this year
.
In addition, eChem also plans to start producing Color Resist next year to enter the Chinese semiconductor photoresist market
.

The new factory, named "Chongqing CEMI Company", is located in Bishan District, Chongqing City, China.
It was jointly invested by the local government and a number of domestic enterprises.
eChem mainly provides material technology and production technical support for the new factory
.
It is reported that eChem has achieved abundant achievements by providing technical support (License) to manufacturers in Taiwan and other regions over the years, so this time it mainly provides technology for Chongqing CEMI, a new factory
.

The new factory will produce photoresists for TFT and PLP
.
In addition, regarding the PLP direction photoresist, the new factory has begun to provide sample delivery for Micro LED and Mini LED, so the new factory is expected to achieve mass production ahead of schedule
.
Regarding the thick film photoresist used to form the copper pillar (Cu Pillar), the new factory plans to develop a photoresist for RDL (Re-Distribution Layer, rearrangement layer) in the future, namely "Permanent Photoresist (Permanent Photoresist)" Resist, refers to photoresist that does not need to be removed after processing)”
.

As a new technology that can be used for LED wiring and semiconductor packaging, the PLP process has attracted much attention in the industry
.
Since this process requires electrolytic copper plating, in China, which has strict environmental protection requirements, the area that can use the PLP process is extremely limited.
However, there is a special electroplating industrial area in Chongqing, which is beneficial for panel manufacturers to adopt the PLP process
.

Chongqing CEMI plans to start producing color photoresist including black photoresist next year, and plans to enter the semiconductor photoresist industry in the future
.
At the same time, it is also planned to horizontally expand the experience technology accumulated in the display field, that is, to consider the production of photoresists for g, h, and i lines in the future
.
In addition, Chongqing CEMI also stated that it will invest about 30 billion yen (about 1.
47 billion yuan) in the research and development of semiconductor photoresists
.

Can eChem's abacus start?

According to Chemical Industry Daily, the establishment of the Chongqing CEMI photoresist factory has the following two favorable factors: first, there are no local competitors in Chongqing; second, Chongqing CEMI is a local photoresist manufacturer
.
Under the situation that Chinese panels dominate the world, local polarizer manufacturers and color photoresist manufacturers continue to rise, and a "vertical coordination model" called "By China" is emerging in mainland China
.
Although Japanese or other foreign-owned manufacturers are leading in technology, it is easier for local Chinese material factories to enjoy preferential treatment
.

It is worth mentioning that on February 25, 2022, at the commencement ceremony of a major project in the Bishan area of ​​the Western (Chongqing) Science City held in Bishan District, Chongqing, the construction of the photoresist and supporting materials project of Chongqing Hengyu Company started.
It will mainly carry out R&D and production of key lithography materials used in high-end flat panel display, integrated circuit packaging, flexible display, Micro LED, etc.
, and will support industrial giants such as BOE and Huaxing Optoelectronics.
After completion, it can achieve an annual output of 36,000 photoresists.
tons, with an annual output value of 2.
5 billion yuan
.

According to the data, Chongqing Hengyu Electronic Materials Co.
, Ltd.
was established on October 9, 2021 with a registered capital of 25 million
.

About eChem Solutions Japan

In 2004, with the talents who have been engaged in material development and panel technology in the FPD industry for many years, eChem Solutions Japan was established in Japan, and eChem Solutions Corp.
was established in Taiwan, China
.
In addition, eChem uses Japan as the research and development center of photosensitive materials, and transfers the results to Taiwan, China, and manufactures and sells photoresist to liquid crystal panel manufacturing customers in Taiwan and mainland China
.

Since then, as the photoresist business for liquid crystal panels has been on the right track and entered a stable period, eChem began to transfer the R&D theme of Japan to other fields, and in 2011, it released the capital relationship with the new application material company in Taiwan, China, as a Japanese company.
The corporation resumed operations
.