EST Expands Electrostatic Chuck Business into Semiconductors and Glass Core Substrates, Secures Customer Orders

What happened

E.S.T held a press briefing on an IPO, the first sale of its shares to the public. The CEO, Kim Young-gon, said the company is growing beyond display screens into chips and next-generation glass core substrates. It says it has already won orders from some customers for these new products.

Key numbers

• E.S.T has worked with more than 20 chip companies and won 9 customers after testing.
• It sent 61 products to 22 possible customers and got approval for 21 products from 9 of them.
• Chip sales are expected to reach 9.6 billion won this year and 37.8 billion won in 2028.
• The IPO offers 2.2 million shares, priced between 10,600 and 12,400 won.

What is an electrostatic chuck?

An electrostatic chuck (ESC) uses static electricity to hold flat items, such as glass panels or silicon wafers, steady during manufacturing. When the item stays firmly in place, factories get more good products, which is called yield. E.S.T built its name on display parts and now wants to sell the same kind of part to chip makers.

Why it matters

Chips and displays are made in very precise steps, and a small shift can ruin a product. If E.S.T's plan works, it could grow its business in chips and new glass-based chip packaging. The company also hopes to supply makers of OLED screens, which are used in phones and TVs.

What to watch

• Whether the remaining tests turn into approvals, and whether the cumulative approved products reach the target of 57 by 2028.
• The start of mass-production reliability tests for the etching chuck next month, and a possible mass-production order around June next year.
• The public share sale: investor demand forecasts run from 14 to 20 and public subscriptions on 22 and 23 of the month.
• How the money from the IPO is used to expand factories and research.