**SK Hynix Implements Dual-Sourcing Strategy…Possibility of Additional Orders for Hanwha Semitek**
**Hanmi Semiconductor Proactively Responds with Stock Buybacks and Client Mentions**
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kang Tae-woo – SK Hynix is accelerating the dual-sourcing of ‘TC Bonder,’ an essential equipment in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) manufacturing process, intensifying competition among equipment suppliers.
Hanmi Semiconductor, a major player in the HBM TC Bonder market, is raising its guard against the entry and expansion of the latecomer Hanwha Semitek with noticeable tensions.
According to industry sources on the 17th, Gwak Dong-shin, CEO of Hanmi Semiconductor, said in a press release today, “We believe there is a significant technological gap with latecomers like ASMPT and Hanwha Semitek.” He added that, “Like ASMPT earlier, Hanwha Semitek, which recently received an order from SK Hynix, will eventually only receive a small scale of orders.”
This comment is perceived as being conscious of Hanwha Semitek’s recent finalization and quality approval for an HBM TC Bonder equipment supply contract worth 21 billion KRW with SK Hynix.
A TC Bonder is crucial equipment for manufacturing AI semiconductor HBM, which involves stacking multiple DRAMs and using heat and pressure during the fixing process.
SK Hynix has been using Hanmi Semiconductor equipment exclusively for the mainstream HBM 5th generation, ‘HBM3E 12-layer’ manufacturing process, but through this supply contract, it is engaging in dual-sourcing by acquiring around 10 units of Hanwha Semitek equipment.
Industry sources indicate that at the end of last year, SK Hynix tested Hanwha Semitek and Singaporean semiconductor equipment maker ASMPT for supply chain diversification, and ultimately selected Hanwha Semitek.
Although Hanmi Semiconductor still holds over 90% of the market share, Hanwha Semitek’s entry into the supply chain of SK Hynix’s key HBM client, Nvidia, reportedly shakes Hanmi Semiconductor’s monopoly status.
Some speculate that Hanwha Semitek could supply more than 30 units out of the estimated 60 to 80 TC Bonders SK Hynix plans to purchase this year.
In response, Hanmi Semiconductor is boosting its competitive confidence by acquiring more of its own shares and directly mentioning major clients.
CEO Gwak emphasized that “Hanmi Semiconductor has global clients including SK Hynix and U.S. Micron” and plans to ship more than 300 TC Bonders this year leveraging its 45-year history, over 120 HBM equipment patents, and the world’s largest HBM TC Bonder production capacity.
The company is also expanding its capacity by building a semiconductor equipment production cluster on a site of 89,530㎡ in Seo-gu, Incheon, with the goal of completion by the fourth quarter of this year.
Meanwhile, Hanwha Semitek aims to accelerate market expansion with the recent supply contract.
Kim Dong-sun, EVP of Hanwha Semitek and third son of Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon, stated at ‘Semicon Korea 2025,’ Korea’s largest semiconductor exhibition which Hanwha Semitek participated in for the first time last month, “Even though we are latecomers in the post-processing area such as HBM TC Bonder, the core of market competitiveness is only innovative technology,” and pledged to “continuously expand R&D investments for differentiated technology development.”