Korea's Hansol Technics enjoys profit on chip equipment unit

Hansol Technics Co., a South Korean company that makes modules for liquid crystal display (LCD) and solar panels, boosted earnings last year thanks to its new subsidiary Hansol Iones Co., a semiconductor equipment parts producer that supplies to Applied Materials Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co.

The LCD module manufacturer posted 54.5 billion won ($42 million) in operating profit last year, swinging to black from a 4.3 billion won loss in 2021. It achieved 1.6 trillion won in revenue for 2022, up 10.5% from the previous year.

Hansol Technics emerged as the second-largest unit by revenue in parent Hansol Group, a local conglomerate. Its revenue accounted for 24% of the group last year, following paper products unit Hansol Paper Co.'s revenue, which made up 36%.

Thanks to the growth in earnings, the LCD module maker announced early this month it will pay cash dividends of 100 won per share – this marks the first time the company will pay dividends since 2011. 

SEMICONDUCTORS, SOLAR PANEL MODULES

Hansol Technics acquired a 34.5% stake in the semiconductor equipment parts maker for 127.5 billion won in January 2022. 

Hansol Iones, formerly Iones, is a leading local company that designs, manufactures, processes and coats semiconductors. It has localized the technology of process chambers, which are used for semiconductor wafer annealing.

It supplies parts to Applied Materials, US’ top semiconductor equipment company, and Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest memory chipmaker. Hansol Iones achieved 129.3 billion won in revenue for the first three quarters of last year.

In addition to the semiconductor business, Hansol Technics is expanding its solar panel module production. The company signed a contract last December to provide 102.3 billion won worth of solar panel modules to LS Electric Co., Korea’s leading automation equipment maker.

Hansol Technics’ stock closed at 6,110 won on Feb. 20, compared with 4,800 won in early January. The company looks to achieve more than 2 trillion won in revenue this year.

Write to Hyung-Chang Choi at calling@hankyung.com

Jihyun Kim edited this article.