Chip probe card maker Micro2Nano is aiming to launch new probe cards for DRAM and NAND for its future growth, the company CEO said on Monday.
Micro2Nano CEO Hwang Kyu-ho told a press conference in Seoul its aim was to reduce its reliance on probe cards for NAND for revenue.
The electrical die sort (EDS) probe card for DRAM is expected to contribute to revenue starting in the second half of the year, Hwang said.
The company is also planning to develop probe cards for logic chips such as CMOS image sensors using its accumulated MEMS technology, he added.
South Korean chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix had relied on DRAM EDS probe cards from foreign manufacturers so far.
The supply chain issue highlighted during the pandemic has given chances for companies like Micro2Nano to expand their portfolio as these chipmakers are expanding local supply of various key components and parts.
Probe cards are used to detect performance and defects on chip wafers that have finished fabrication. Burn-in probe cards detect the performance of the chips while EDS probe cards are used to detect defective chips.
Micro2Nano has grown 22.4% on average in revenue per year from 2019 to 2022.
Last year, it achieved a 30.6% year-on-year growth to reach 41.4 billion won in revenue. In operating profit, it saw a 28.5% increase over the same time period to 6.28 billion won.
However, due to the downturn of the global chip market, Micro2Nano is expected to see revenue and profit drop.
But it is also seeking to expand in China. It is collaborating with local company Mingzhen and has recently secured GigaDevice, HHGRACE and YMTC as customers. Hwang said the company is expected to gain 20 billion won in new revenue by 2025 from China.
Micro2Nano is also expected to secure Solidigm as a new customer in 2025, when SK Hynix will complete the second phase of its acquisition of Intel’s NAND business units. Solidigm currently exclusively uses FormFactor as its supplier for probe cards. SK Hynix is a key customer of Micro2Nano.
On Monday, Micro2Nano started proceedings for its listing on the Korean exchange. It is listing a million shares on April 26. Korea Investment Securities is underwriting the deal.
