U.S.-Korea Collaboration Showcased at SK Siltron CSS in Michigan

Ambassadors tour SK semiconductor materials facility as part of KEI program

BAY CITY, Mich. – SK Siltron CSS recently provided officials from the U.S. and South Korea a first-hand look at the positive impact of collaborations between the two countries as part of the Ambassadors’ Dialogue program coordinated by the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI).

The KEI program highlights the importance of the U.S.-Korea economic partnership by hosting discussions at sites across America. South Korea is the United States’ sixth-largest trading partner and a major driver of economic growth. Investment by South Korean companies in the U.S. reached a record $74.7 billion in 2022.

SK Siltron CSS hosted delegations led by Phillip Goldberg, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, and Hyundong Cho, South Korea Ambassador to the U.S. The group held a discussion on-site about U.S.-Korea trade relations. They also were provided a tour of the SK Siltron CSS development and manufacturing site in Bay City, Mich.

At the Michigan site, SK Siltron CSS develops and makes silicon carbide wafers – thin discs of a breakthrough material used by semiconductor companies to make power components for electric vehicles (EVs). Silicon carbide is more efficient at handling heat and high voltages than silicon, enabling EVs that use the material in their power systems to have longer driving ranges and faster charging.

SK Siltron, an SK Group company based in South Korea, acquired the business in 2020. SK Siltron is a global leader in making silicon wafers used to make computer chips and sensors. At the time of the acquisition, the Michigan business had a single site in Auburn, Mich. SK Siltron CSS has since expanded to a second larger site in nearby Bay City and quadrupled its Michigan employee base.

SK Siltron CSS has moved silicon carbide from research to commercialization by leveraging the expertise of the Michigan team in developing the material along with the Korea team’s experience in mass producing wafers for major semiconductor companies.  

“SK Siltron CSS was honored to host ambassadors from the U.S. and Korea to provide a tangible example of the economic benefits of U.S.-Korea collaborations,” said Seungho Pi, CEO of SK Siltron CSS. “The work being done by SK teams in the U.S. and Korea is creating skilled jobs in Michigan, strengthening America’s supply chain of semiconductor materials and driving innovations to advance the global auto industry.” 

The growth at SK Siltron CSS is part of a broader investment in the U.S. by SK Group companies. Since 2019, SK Group companies have invested a combined $30 billion in U.S. businesses with a focus on new energy, semiconductors and life sciences.