ICHI Supplies PE Foam for Apple’s First Foldable Phone... Secures Supply Chains with Samsung and Apple

ICHI, a company specializing in advanced materials and components, has begun mass supplying high-performance polyethylene (PE) foam materials for Apple’s first foldable phone. Following its supply to Samsung Electronics, ICHI has now secured a position in the supply chain of another major global smartphone manufacturer with Apple, raising expectations for the expansion of its related materials business.

ICHI announced on September 10 that since July, it has been mass-producing and supplying a high-performance PE foam-based material for use in Apple’s next-generation foldable phone. With Apple officially unveiling its first foldable phone on this day, ICHI’s premium smartphone materials technology and mass production capabilities have also come into the spotlight.

The PE foam material supplied by ICHI is a functional cushioning material that features the company’s proprietary ultra-precise thickness control technology. It maintains spacing between internal components within the foldable phone while absorbing external shocks. The company explained that since foldable phones undergo repeated folding and compression unlike conventional smartphones, durability and precise thickness control of materials are especially critical.

Materials for foldable phones require greater accuracy and durability than those used for regular smartphones, making this a field with relatively high technological entry barriers. ICHI expects that as the foldable phone market expands and unit shipments increase, sales of related materials will also gradually grow.

Significantly, ICHI, already a supplier of functional materials for Samsung Electronics’ foldable phones, has now entered the supply chain of both leading global smartphone companies by mass supplying materials for Apple’s first foldable phone as well.

With Apple stepping wholeheartedly into the foldable phone market, the growth potential of the related parts and materials market is also increasing. Based on its presence in both companies’ supply chains, ICHI plans to expand its high-value-added foldable phone materials business and enhance its technical competitiveness in the global market.

The company is also accelerating diversification of its business portfolio. Building on its precision materials technology accumulated through its existing mobile IT materials business, ICHI is broadening its application areas to future industries such as energy storage systems (ESS) and humanoid robots.

A company representative stated, “The mass adoption of our high-performance foam material not only by Samsung Electronics but also in Apple’s foldable phone is a testament to our technological prowess in the global market. We will continue strengthening our position in the smartphone materials market, while also expanding into various new high-performance business sectors.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.