Atech Solution opens new Asan factory with W151.4b investment to quadruple reclaimed wafer output

Atech Solution, a domestic specialist in reclaimed semiconductor wafers, has completed a new factory in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, backed by 151.4 billion won ($114 million) in investment, and plans to sharply expand its production capacity. The company aims to strengthen the competitiveness of domestically made reclaimed wafers and bolster South Korea's semiconductor supply chain in a market long dominated by Japanese firms.

Atech Solution said it held a completion ceremony Thursday for a 12-inch silicon reclaimed wafer production facility at its new Asan factory.

The new factory required a total investment of 151.4 billion won. The company plans to use the new facility to raise its monthly reclaimed wafer production capacity from the current 70,000 wafers to 260,000 by 2028 — roughly 3.7 times the current level.

Reclaimed wafers are silicon wafers that have been used in semiconductor manufacturing or equipment performance testing, then cleaned and reprocessed for reuse. Chipmakers use reclaimed wafers for equipment checks and process testing, reducing costs.

As semiconductor manufacturing processes grow increasingly fine, reclaimed wafers now require higher levels of quality control. Microscopic contaminants and surface damage can affect semiconductor processes, making precision processing technology and clean production environments ever more critical.

To meet this demand, Atech Solution equipped the new factory with advanced cleaning and processing systems. According to the company, the facility can manage particles as small as 19 nanometers and maintains a cleanroom environment rated between Class 1 and Class 10. The setup will simultaneously improve the quality and production yield of its reclaimed wafers, the company said.

The investment is also expected to shift the supply dynamics of South Korea's reclaimed wafer market, which has relied heavily on Japanese suppliers. Atech Solution carries out the full 12-inch silicon wafer reclamation process domestically using its own technology.

The company said its proprietary cleaning technology minimizes wafer damage, extending the number of times each wafer can be reused, while its domestic production base gives it a competitive edge on delivery times.

Atech Solution said Japanese competitors typically take about two months to deliver, while the company can fulfill orders within one week. Leveraging that advantage, it has been deepening ties with major domestic chipmakers and equipment makers, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

Through the Asan factory, Atech Solution plans to grow its domestic market share and is also considering additional investment in production facilities and overseas expansion as demand increases.

The company also sees a growing environmental case for reclaimed wafers. Reprocessing used silicon wafers reduces the need for new raw materials and cuts waste. Alongside the new factory's operations, the company plans to expand local hiring and increase business with regional suppliers.

"Expanding production capacity and building state-of-the-art facilities was essential to reliably meeting demand from customers including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix," said Park Byung-ho, chief executive of Atech Solution. "This investment is not simply a factory scale-up — it is a strategic investment to secure world-class competitiveness."

Founded in 2009, Atech Solution operates in precision semiconductor parts cleaning, reclaimed wafers and silicon components. Park has been recognized for contributions to the semiconductor industry, receiving a ministerial commendation from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in 2021 and an industrial merit award in 2023.