NEPCON Korea exhibitors roll out new products

The electronic industry in South Korea received a much needed boost with the celebration of Electronic Week 2002 from April 24 to April 26, 2002. Supported by Korea Electronic Industries Cooperate (KEIC), KPMA, and Kyungyon Exhibition Corp., the trade exhibition saw more than 400 foreign companies from countries such as United States, Germany, Japan, and United Kingdom joining the exhibition.

With the theme "Share with the World in Electronic Technology and Vision," the exhibition consists of four individual shows: KEPES 2002, NEPCON Korea, KPCA 2002 and EMCO 2002. NEPCON participants such as Chang Sung Corp., Moksan Electronic Co. Ltd and Interflex Co. Ltd unveiled a variety of advanced electronic components ranging from semiconductor devices to LCDs.

Moksan Electronic introduced an LED ramp device, a fiber-optic diode and an LED display during the show. The LED device is suitable for use in highway electric light panels, indoor and outdoor displays and signal lights. General manager Yu Yong Sook remarked, "As far as our green and red LEDs are concerned, we are ready to conduct business with either the government or private companies."

One maker, NamA Electronic Ind. Co. Ltd, showcased SMT machines that were originally manufactured in Germany. The systems are based on a mechanical or laser optic component surface mounting method. They support universal CAD interface that allows users easily to transform CAD data (ASCII). Assistant Manager Park Il Jun noted, "SMT equipment makers are now moving toward high-end products."

However, K. D. Yoon, president of logic device supplier Integral Korea Co. Ltd, disagrees. "We are focusing on the high-demand market which requires lower R&D cost," he revealed. According to Yoon, demand for logic ICs has steadily decreased, but it remains as the most profitable market for small companies with the departure of big companies from the industry. "We are not a Sony or a Samsung Electronics that have strong technology and funding capabilities. In the past few years, a lot of logic device makers have transferred from logic device to ASIC production. This allowed us to increase our market share worldwide."

Electronic Engineering Times ? Korea