Aircell Joins SK Hynix in Developing Next-Gen SSDs Based on TSMC Front-End Process

Aircell has become a key partner in SK Hynix's development of next-generation enterprise SSDs. The company announced on the 29th that it has signed a contract for customized design services and tape-out support for SK Hynix's next-gen enterprise SSD controller development, with a contract value of 31.9 billion won and a duration from May 27, 2025, to December 31, 2027. Aircell, a specialist in ASIC design solutions and South Korea's sole TSMC Value Chain Alliance (VCA) partner, will provide design and verification capabilities based on TSMC front-end process, with the contract scope covering manufacturing phases. The company highlighted that expanding AI learning/inference, cloud services, and high-performance computing (HPC) markets has elevated data center storage performance and power efficiency as key infrastructure competitiveness factors. Enterprise SSD controllers, which manage data flow between servers and storage devices, are critical semiconductors impacting speed, stability, and power efficiency. As AI data center storage demand grows, the importance of next-gen controller technology is increasing. Aircell's CEO, Lee Jong-min, stated the company will continue expanding capabilities to provide top-tier design services and ensure smooth manufacturing execution for customers requiring front-end process-based next-gen products.