Industry

KNJ boosts second-half supply with semiconductor parts expansion

KNJ said first-half revenue rose 80.2 percent from a year earlier to 69.07 billion won, while operating profit increased 27.7 percent to 13.96 billion won, helped by growth in its semiconductor parts and FPCB businesses. Net profit fell to 6.7 billion won due to higher manufacturing costs, valuation losses on convertible bonds and corporate tax expenses. The company is bringing forward expansion plans to add capacity and widen supply in the second half.

Industry

Russia challenges chip equipment with technology to cut wafer exposure from two weeks to five minutes

A Russian startup has unveiled multi-cathode electron-beam lithography technology that uses multiple electron beams at once to speed up semiconductor exposure. Developers said a silicon wafer could be exposed in about 5 to 7 minutes, compared with 1 to 2 weeks using a single beam. They said they have verified operation of a multi-cathode electron source, not a complete tool. Experts said industrial use would require further development, stable control and funding.