What Korchip does

Korchip Corporation (KOSDAQ: 126730) is a Gyeonggi-do, South Korea-based electronic components company founded in 1990 that operates a hybrid manufacturer-distributor model. On the manufacturing side, it develops and produces small and ultra-small secondary batteries under two proprietary brands, CHIPCELL CARBON (EDLC/supercapacitor) and CHIPCELL LITHIUM (lithium-ion). The CHIPCELL CARBON line — built on EDLC technology Korchip acquired from Samsung Electro-Mechanics in 2002, with roots tracing to a 1994 Murata technical tie-up — is offered in Coin, Radial, Module, Rug and TR Series variants with capacitance from 0.033F to 350F, targeting RTC backup, memory backup, power assist, motor drive, UPS/emergency power, and ESS applications. The CHIPCELL LITHIUM line adds radial (PS/PE) and coin (CL) form factors with claimed non-flammable chemistry, 5–10 minute rapid charging, 5,000-cycle lifetime and PCB-mountable terminals aimed at remote controllers, wireless IT peripherals, portable medical devices, multi-joint robots, and alkaline-battery replacement use cases.

On the distribution side, Korchip has been an authorized Samsung Electro-Mechanics agent since 1992 and a registered Samsung Electronics "1ST Vendor" since 2009, reselling passives (MLCC, chip resistors, tantalum capacitors, crystal devices, filters, inductors), PCBs (package substrate, HDI, PBA, rigid-flex), modules (adapters, antennas, camera modules, cellular FEM, digital tuners, LED drivers, media storage, server power, vibration motors, TV power, wireless LAN, wireless power transfer), and semiconductors (bipolar IC, CMOS IC, discrete). The company serves IT/consumer electronics, industrial/energy, and transportation customers through a direct B2B sales model with on-time delivery across more than 40 countries, supported by three South Korean manufacturing sites (Anyang, Gunpo/Geumjeong, Ansan), automotive-grade certifications (IATF 16949, UL), and a sample-kit channel for design engineers. Korchip completed its KOSDAQ listing in May 2024 and is reinvesting in a third CHIPCELL SOLID (solid-state) battery research institute.

Name

Korchip

Legal name

KORCHIP CORPORATION

Website

https://korchip.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Ipo

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Korchip is a South Korean KOSDAQ-listed electronic components company that manufactures small and ultra-small secondary batteries (CHIPCELL CARBON EDLC supercapacitors and CHIPCELL LITHIUM cells) while distributing Samsung Electro-Mechanics passives, PCBs, modules and semiconductors to global enterprise customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electronic Components and Energy Storage Devices

NAICS

Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB), Solid-State Battery Materials & Cell Manufacturing (EUAFABAH)

Keywords

• EDLC supercapacitors
• Small lithium-ion batteries
• Electronic component distribution
• Passive components supply
• Energy storage devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Seongnam

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. CHIPCELL CARBON Products: Sale of supercapacitor/EDLC type secondary batteries including Coin Type, Radial Type, Module Type products for RTC back-up, memory back-up, power assist, motor drive, and energy storage applications.
2. CHIPCELL LITHIUM Products: Sale of lithium-ion secondary batteries in radial and coin types for remote controllers, wireless IT devices, portable medical devices, and industrial applications.
3. Samsung Electronics Components Distribution: Distribution/resale of Samsung Electro-Mechanics products including MLCC, chip resistors, inductors, filters, tantalum capacitors, PCBs, and various modules.
4. Semiconductor Products: Distribution of semiconductor products including Bipolar IC, CMOS IC, and Discrete components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Korchip manufactures and sells small/ultra-small secondary batteries under its proprietary CHIPCELL brand: CHIPCELL CARBON EDLC/supercapacitors (Coin, Radial, Module types) and CHIPCELL LITHIUM lithium-ion batteries (PS, PE, CL series). In parallel, Korchip acts as an authorized distributor of Samsung Electro-Mechanics passive components (MLCC, chip resistors, tantalum capacitors, inductors, filters, crystal devices), PCB products, modules, and semiconductor products (Bipolar IC, CMOS IC, Discrete) to enterprise customers globally.

Product overview

Korchip is an energy storage device company specializing in the development and manufacturing of small/ultra-small secondary batteries. The company's core product portfolio consists of two main product lines: CHIPCELL CARBON (EDLC/supercapacitor type) available in Coin Type, Radial Type, Module Type, Rug Type, and TR Series variants with capacitance ranging from 0.033F to 350F; and CHIPCELL LITHIUM (lithium-ion battery type) available in PS Series, PE Series (radial), and CL Series (coin) with capacities from 0.4mAh to 100mAh. Additionally, Korchip serves as a distributor for Samsung Electro-Mechanics products including passive components (MLCC, chip resistors, tantalum capacitors, crystal devices, filters, inductors), PCB products (package substrate, HDI, PBA, rigid-flex), modules (adapters, antennas, camera modules, cellular FEM, digital tuners, LED drivers, media storage, server power, vibration motors, TV power, wireless LAN, wireless power transfer), and semiconductor products (bipolar IC, CMOS IC, and discrete components including transistors, MOSFETs, diodes, ESD protectors, thyristors, and photo couplers). The company also offers Samsung MLCC Sample Kits for prototyping and evaluation purposes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CHIPCELL CARBON (칩셀카본): Small/ultra-small carbon type secondary battery - EDLC/supercapacitor type products including Coin Type, Radial Type, Module Type for applications like RTC backup, memory backup, battery power assist, motor drive, UPS, and emergency power.
• CHIPCELL LITHIUM (칩셀리튬)
• STARCAP

Products and services

• CHIPCELL CARBON (칩셀카본) EDLC (Electric Double Layer Capacitor) / supercapacitor type small and ultra-small carbon secondary battery used as an auxiliary power source for data storage during power disconnection and RTC (Real Time Clock) maintenance. Available in Coin Type, Radial Type, Module Type, Rug Type, and TR Series variants for RTC back-up, memory back-up, power assist, motor drive, UPS, and emergency power applications in consumer, industrial, and automotive electronics.
• CHIPCELL LITHIUM (칩셀리튬) Small/ultra-small lithium-ion secondary battery with high safety features (no fire or explosion risk), fast charging in 5-10 minutes, and long lifetime of 5,000 charge/discharge cycles. Available in Radial Type (PS/PE Series) and Coin Type (CL Series) with PCB-solderable reflow terminals, designed as a direct replacement for disposable alkaline batteries in remote controllers, wireless IT peripherals, portable medical devices, and industrial robots.
• Samsung MLCC (Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitor) Distribution Authorized distribution of Samsung Electro-Mechanics MLCC products including General & High Cap, Acoustic Noise Reduction, Embedded, High Frequency, Soft Termination, Medium-High Voltage, and Automotive variants for charge storage and noise removal in electronic devices.
• Samsung Chip Resistor Distribution Authorized distribution of Samsung Electro-Mechanics chip resistor products including General Resistor, CSR (Current Sensing Resistor), ASR (Anti-Sulfur Resistor), and Array Resistor variants for electronic circuit applications.
• Samsung Tantalum Capacitor Distribution Authorized distribution of Samsung Electro-Mechanics polymer-type tantalum capacitor products for charge storage, noise removal, and general electronic applications.
• Samsung Semiconductor Distribution (Bipolar IC, CMOS IC, Discrete) Authorized distribution of Samsung Electro-Mechanics semiconductor products including Bipolar ICs (regulators, OP amps, transistor arrays), CMOS ICs (voltage detectors, DC-DC converters, LED drivers, SCMOS logic), and Discrete components (transistors, MOSFETs, diodes, ESD protectors, thyristors, photo couplers).
• Samsung MLCC Sample Kit Component sample kit containing various Samsung MLCC, chip resistor, and inductor samples in multiple sizes (1005/0402, 1608/0603, 2012/0805, 3216/1206) for circuit design evaluation and prototyping. Available in SDA-X (550 KRW/unit), SDC-X (600 KRW/unit), and SDB-X (650 KRW/unit) cases.
• Samsung PCB and Module Product Distribution Authorized distribution of Samsung Electro-Mechanics PCB products (Package Substrate, HDI, PBA, Rigid-Flex PCB) and electronic modules (Adapter, Antenna IMA, Camera Module, Cellular FEM, Digital Tuner, LED Lighting Power, Media Storage HDD Motor, Server Power, Vibration Motor, TV Power, Wireless LAN, Wireless Power Transfer) for semiconductor interconnection and functional module integration.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000 charge/discharge cycle lifetime for CHIPCELL LITHIUM
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Samsung Electro-MechanicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Korchip took over EDLC business from Samsung Electro-Mechanics in 2002. Samsung Electro-Mechanics originally started EDLC research in 1988, had technical tie-up with Murata in 1994, took over EDLC business from Murata in 1994, mass-produced non-aqueous system in 1999, and disposed of EDLC business to Korchip in 2002. Korchip also distributes Samsung Electro-Mechanics products including MLCC, semiconductors, and LED products.
• Samsung ElectronicscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1992Korchip started as an agent for Samsung Electro-Mechanics products in 1992. In 2009, Korchip was registered as Samsung Electronics 1ST Vendor, indicating a preferred vendor status for supplying electronic components.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Samsung Electro-Mechanics: Samsung Electro-Mechanics is both the originator of Korchip's EDLC technology (transferred in 2002) and the principal supplier whose MLCC, chip resistor, inductor, PCB, and module products Korchip distributes. While not a direct battery competitor, the strategic dependency makes it the most contextually significant company to Korchip's distribution revenue.

Direct peers

• Tadiran Batteries: Tadiran specializes in lithium primary and rechargeable coin/cylindrical cells for industrial memory backup and wireless sensor applications — a near-direct competitor to CHIPCELL LITHIUM Radial (PS/PE) series in metering, PLC, and industrial IoT sockets.
• Seiko Instruments (SII) / Micro Energy: Seiko Instruments is a pioneer in coin-type rechargeable lithium-ion and silver-oxide batteries; its Micro Energy division overlaps directly with Korchip's CHIPCELL LITHIUM CL Series (PCB-mountable coin cells) targeting the same remote-control, wearable, and memory-backup sockets.
• Vina Technology (VinaTech): VinaTech is a Korean supercapacitor manufacturer producing EDLC cells and modules that compete with Korchip's CHIPCELL CARBON/STARCAP line in the same Korean and global industrial memory-backup, power-assist, and energy-harvesting markets.
• Murata Manufacturing: Murata is a global leader in electronic components including EDLC supercapacitors and is historically the original source of the EDLC technology stack that Korchip ultimately acquired. It competes head-on with Korchip in the small-form-factor EDLC and lithium-ion rechargeable cell categories across consumer electronics customers.
• Cornell Dubilier (formerly Illinois Capacitor): Cornell Dubilier/Illinois Capacitor manufactures radial and snap-mount EDLC supercapacitor cells and modules for industrial and energy applications — directly comparable to Korchip's CHIPCELL CARBON Radial and Module Type products.
• Maxell Holdings: Maxell is a major Japanese manufacturer of coin-cell lithium batteries and EDLC supercapacitors, directly overlapping Korchip's product portfolio for memory backup, RTC, and small-device power. It competes with both CHIPCELL CARBON and CHIPCELL LITHIUM product families.

Emerging players

• Skeleton Technologies: Skeleton Technologies (which acquired Nesscap's supercapacitor business) develops high-power supercapacitor cells and modules for automotive, industrial, and grid applications. It is an emerging competitor in higher-energy EDLC categories adjacent to Korchip's Radial and Module products.

Broad incumbents

• Eaton (supercapacitor business): Eaton's electrical business sells industrial-grade supercapacitor modules for UPS, grid, and heavy industrial applications, providing a competing supply source for the same backup-power and energy-harvesting sockets where Korchip's Module Type products are positioned.
• Panasonic Industry: Panasonic's battery and electronic-component division produces a broad range of small-format lithium and supercapacitor products. While it spans far more than Korchip's niche, it competes across memory backup, coin cells, and industrial power-assist sockets relevant to CHIPCELL families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/korchip-corp-

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Korchip