Samsung Electro-Mechanics secures multiyear chip substrate deal as LG Innotek develops sensing solutions for Nvidia's robotics platforms
Samsung Electro-Mechanics and LG Innotek are expanding their ties with Nvidia, applying their expertise in semiconductor substrates and sensing technology to the US chipmaker's growing AI computing and robotics businesses.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics announced a multiyear agreement Wednesday to supply advanced semiconductor substrates for Nvidia's AI processors and networking chips, while LG Innotek said Thursday it was working with Nvidia to develop sensing systems for humanoid robots.
The collaborations show how Korean electronics component-makers are seeking new applications for their existing technologies as Nvidia expands both its chip manufacturing supply chain and robotics platforms.
Under the agreement, Samsung Electro-Mechanics and Nvidia will jointly invest in expanding substrate production facilities in Sejong and Busan with supplies beginning this year.
The substrates will be used in AI computing processors and high-speed networking chips for data centers. They provide electrical connections between semiconductor chips and circuit boards, making them essential to high-performance computing systems.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics will initially supply Nvidia through its existing Korean manufacturing operations, with additional capacity planned through factory upgrades and new facilities.
The agreement forms part of Nvidia's broader effort to secure manufacturing capacity amid surging demand for AI computing infrastructure.
Nvidia said Wednesday that agreements with Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Japan's Ibiden and Taiwan's Unimicron would help increase substrate production capacity for its products by 2.5 times over the next three years.
By 2028, Nvidia-related production is expected to account for a significant portion of Samsung Electro-Mechanics' total annual package substrate capacity, although specific supply volumes and financial terms were not disclosed.
The deal provides another growth opportunity for Samsung Electro-Mechanics, which has been expanding its high-end semiconductor substrate business alongside its established multilayer ceramic capacitor operations.
Its package solutions division reported second-quarter revenue of 771.6 billion won ($583 million), up 37 percent from a year earlier, supported by demand for advanced substrates used in AI accelerators and servers.
LG Innotek, meanwhile, is extending its camera and sensing technologies into Nvidia's robotics ecosystem.
The company said it showcased a 3-megapixel camera module and a multimodal vision system incorporating Nvidia's Holoscan Sensor Bridge technology at GTC Berlin on Tuesday.
The technology lets cameras and other sensors send data directly to AI computing systems, helping robots process information about their surroundings more quickly.
LG Innotek plans to expand the collaboration into vision sensing for humanoid robots and robotic hands, with next-generation solutions scheduled for demonstration at CES and GTC in 2027.
The move follows Nvidia's announcement Wednesday of additional tools and technologies for its Isaac robotics platform, including a humanoid reference platform aimed at supporting robot development.
For LG Innotek, whose mainstay business has been smartphone camera modules, the collaboration builds on its push into autonomous driving and robotics, including previous work with Hyundai Motor Group's Boston Dynamics on robotic vision systems.
Unlike Samsung Electro-Mechanics' multiyear supply agreement, LG Innotek has not disclosed confirmed Nvidia-related purchase volumes or contract values.
mjh@heraldcorp.com