Wafer probing service provider Ardentec plans to invest NT$353 million (US$12.2 million) to set up a wholly-owned subsidiary in South Korea, eyeing orders from local foundry chipmakers, according to the company. Located in Gyeonggi-do, the new facility is scheduled to commence volume production in the second half of 2011.

Samsung Electronics, Dongbu HiTek and MagnaChip Semiconductor are among Ardentec's potential clients.

Ardentec previously established a subsidiary in Singapore to meet rising demand driven by 12-inch wafer output from local foundry players, as well as international foundries and IDMs that have fabs in the country. The Singapore facility generates NT$50-60 million in monthly revenues, and has remained profitable, Ardentec said.

Thanks to a pull-in of outsourcing orders, Ardentec expects sales for the first quarter of 2011 to decrease 5-8% sequentially compared to larger drops seen historically. The company saw consolidated revenues slide 2.35% on quarter to NT$1.28 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010.