South Korea’s SK keyfoundry has unveiled a fourth‑generation 200V high‑voltage BCD (Bipolar‑CMOS‑DMOS) process built on a 0.18‑micron node and produced on 8‑inch wafers, and says it will begin product development with major domestic and international customers with a goal of volume production within the year. The announcement positions the pure‑play 8‑inch foundry to serve rising demand for mature, high‑voltage power ICs used in charging, motor drivers, industrial power supplies and a range of automotive subsystems.
BCD combines bipolar transistors, CMOS logic and DMOS power transistors in one process family; the 0.18‑micron geometry is a mature technology well suited to high‑voltage analog, mixed‑signal and power applications rather than bleeding‑edge logic. A 200V rating enables designers to build discrete and integrated power management functions for mid‑voltage domains—common in on‑board chargers, power adapters, industrial controllers and many vehicle peripheral systems—while remaining compatible with the widely deployed 200mm (8‑inch) manufacturing base.
The move is strategically sensible: semiconductor demand is bifurcating, with robust growth in power‑electronics and specialty devices even as leading foundries push advanced nodes for AI and mobile processors. By upgrading a capable, risk‑averse node, SK keyfoundry is aiming at a profitable, less cyclical niche where design wins can translate quickly into steady volume on established production lines. The offering also provides a supply‑chain alternative for OEMs seeking geographic diversification away from a handful of large suppliers.
Geopolitics and industrial policy add another layer of significance. High‑voltage BCD processes are not as sensitive to the export controls that have dogged certain cutting‑edge logic and memory technologies, but they remain critical components in electrification and defence‑adjacent systems. SK’s announcement is therefore likely to be watched by equipment makers and national purchasers alike as they map out sourcing strategies for power semiconductors. For customers, the near‑term question will be whether SK can convert development agreements into timely, high‑quality production and whether it will extend its roadmap to higher voltage ratings that electric‑vehicle traction and heavy industrial applications increasingly require.