Editor’s Note
This article highlights the evolution of Inseong Diamond from a glass-processing specialist into a precision technology firm serving advanced industries like semiconductors. Their focus on developing new polishing technologies underscores a key trend: the critical role of foundational materials and processes in enabling broader industrial innovation.
Inseong Diamond Co., Ltd. (CEO Lee Sang-don), located in the Namdong National Industrial Complex in Incheon, started as a diamond tool company for glass processing and has now evolved into a specialized manufacturer that has accumulated technological capabilities focusing on the semiconductor, cleaning, and precision materials industries. Recently, Inseong Diamond has presented a relatively clear direction for new product development and sales strategies targeting the precision polishing market, alongside its main product structure.
The primary demand for Inseong Diamond’s products comes from the cleaning industry associated with semiconductor processes. Ceramic, quartz, and alumina material containers used in semiconductor manufacturing are expensive special components, and reuse is more common than disposal after use. Consequently, a process of re-polishing and restoring the surface through specialized cleaning companies is essential.
In this process, the quality and precision of the polishing tools determine reusability. CEO Lee Sang-don of the company explained:
Within this structure, Inseong Diamond maintains a stable demand base centered around primary and secondary semiconductor vendors and specialized cleaning companies.
Inseong Diamond’s main product is the flexible type diamond sheet. This product accounts for about 70-80% of total sales and is used for polishing various materials including not only glass but also ceramics, quartz, porcelain, and stone. Particularly in semiconductor cleaning processes, consumption is high, leading to continuous supply. This sheet, which attaches diamonds via an electrodeposition method, can be applied to various base materials, giving it a wide range of applications, and is actively supplied to overseas markets including Japan.
A new product recently developed by Inseong Diamond is a sponge-based foam pad diamond sheet. Compared to the existing electrodeposited sheet, which has relatively hard polishing characteristics, the foam pad product, based on a flexible structure, enables softer and more uniform polishing. It targets cleaning and precision finishing processes that require minimizing surface damage as its main application areas.
The foam pad sheet has a structure where diamonds are sprayed and fixed onto a sponge substrate using a resin method. It is characterized by reducing the burden on the material during polishing while securing sufficient processing power. It can be used for both dry and wet processes, and practical use evaluations are underway, mainly with cleaning companies. Supply to some companies has already begun, and inquiries from overseas buyers are continuing.
The supply sizes for the foam pad are three types: 190×300mm, 100×100mm, and 100×76mm. Custom cutting to customer specifications is also possible. There are nine types of mesh: #60, #100, #200, #400, #600, #800, #1000, #1500, and #3000.
CEO Lee stated:
Inseong Diamond also maintains a technology-centered management approach. It currently holds 21 valid patents, and some core patented technologies are applied to the current main product lineup, serving as a foundation supporting sales. Furthermore, the company plans to expand online and offline contact points to more actively promote its products and technologies and link this to strengthening sales capabilities.
A company representative said:
