Frontken Corporation Berhad 200401012517 (651020-T) • ANNUAL REPORT 2022 14 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE (CONT’D) Semiconductor is an essential component of electronic devices, from being used in communications, computing, education, healthcare, automotive, home appliances to countless other applications. As witnessed over the course of 3 years, the adoption of many technologies have accelerated in an unprecedented manner. Many of us have come to realise the importance of chips to the world and how many are used in our daily electronic devices. At one point, there was an unexpected surge in demand for these chips that led to the global supply constraints in the semiconductor space. However, many experts in the industry have anticipated that there would be some easing of the supply chain as a result of reduced spending coupled with inventory correction. If this happens, there is no doubt that, we like every other businesses may face challenges. Nevertheless, this may provide an opportunity for us to focus on new projects, fine tune and restructure our operations. On our R&D, we continue to work closely alongside our customers to support them as they continue to advance in the leading-edge semiconductor technology. Our team is constantly looking at new ideas or improve those that already exist, utilising more environmentally friendly materials and automate some aspect of our processes. As technology continues to advance, so will our processes. The requirement for the chamber process parts has become more and more stringent hence, the need to achieve close to zero particles contamination has become more important than ever. Our advanced precision cleaning process is complex and highly precise, involving as many as 50-60 different steps for each process. It involves heavy interplay of chemistries, iterative experimental method, and advanced metrology and spectroscopy, such as infra-red spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and scanning probe microscopy. It also includes investigating chemical phenomena, studies of ground state of individual atoms and molecules, the excited states, and the transition states that occur during cleaning processes. The quality control of the end result is extremely crucial and is performed using advanced metrology systems and computerised data station. Having said that, our advanced precision cleaning process technology and consistency in end results make us, I believe, stronger than ever today. Other than growing organically, the Group continues to look for further growth opportunities and possibilities such as potential mergers and acquisitions in the semiconductor space. We will keep our shareholders up to date through our Company’s announcement once we have anything finalised. Based on internal data and conversations with our customers, we remain cautiously optimistic that the performance of this segment will be satisfactory in the coming year. Taiwan — In FY2022, AGTC once again achieved its highest ever revenue of RM347.4 million, an increase of 12% from a year ago. This achievement was attributable to the increased business from our key customers as a result of the higher demand by their end customers in the advanced technology nodes. Over the last few years, Taiwan semiconductor’s industry has performed well, fueled by growing demand due to its strong capabilities in wafer manufacturing in the leadingedge technology and its complete industry supply chain. The first phase of our new plant (Plant 2) at the Southern Taiwan Science Park, Kaohsiung was completed sometime Plant 2 at the Southern Taiwan Science Park, Kaohsiung
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDgzMzc=