LG Energy Solution expands battery production in Korea and China

Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution is expanding its production of cylindrical cells in Korea and China. That’s according to a securities report LG Energy Solution released for its planned IPO. According to the report, the company will invest the equivalent of $533 million in its Ochang plant in South Korea by 2023 to build a new production line for cylindrical batteries. This will expand the plant’s production capacity to a total of 22 GWh by 2025. In addition, LG Energy Solution will invest the equivalent of 922 million US dollars in the Chinese production facility in Nanjing by 2024. There, the production capacity for cylindrical batteries is expected to exceed 60 GWh in 2025. Batteries and related products often require KCs Ex certification of explosion-proof electrical components for access to the Korean market.     Based on the fact that it normally costs about US$57.8 million to expand battery production capacity by 1 GWh, LG Enery Solution’s investments in Ochang and Nanjing could increase production capacity to about 9 and 17 GWh, respectively. The company’s intention to produce more cylindrical batteries is based on the assumption of higher demand in the coming years. Cylindrical batteries are standardized and look like standard household batteries. As a result, they have the advantage of low production costs and high energy density for their size. Therefore, Tesla and other startups are interested in this type of battery. LG Energy Solution is considered a supplier of cylindrical batteries for the Chinese Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. With increasing sales of Tesla’s EVs, LG Energy Solution also had to expand its capacity. Some time ago, the battery manufacturer corrected its planned production from 100 to 120 GWh, as an additional 20 GWh of cylindrical batteries were added. In addition to Tesla, other EV startups and manufacturers such as Rivian and Lucid are also using cylindrical batteries. According to a forecast by Bloomberg, EV sales will reach about 25.8 million units in 2030, 15 times the number in 2020. Accordingly, cylindrical batteries are also expected to increase in demand. We provide certification services for all product areas, including KC certification for consumer products and especially electronics, KC-EMV certification for electronic products, and KCs certification for machinery, as well as KCs for explosion-proof products. We are available to answer any questions you may have about Korea certifications. Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs, KCs for explosion safety products or KGS factory registration. Tel. Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261 Tel. US: +1 773 654-2673 Email: info@korea-certification.com Urgent questions? Please do not hesitate to contact us via chat. You will find the chat window at the bottom right of each page (if this is not visible, please check your browser settings). For more information you can download our free brochure “Korea Certification Made Easy – The Booklet“.

Hyundai Engineering plans to produce hydrogen from plastic waste

Hyundai Engineering Co, the construction unit of South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, is investing the equivalent of $336 million to build a plant to produce hydrogen from plastic waste. The factory in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, is scheduled to break ground in the first half of 2022, with commercial operation in 2024. Hyundai Engineering expects to complete and test the technology needed to produce high-purity clean hydrogen from plastic waste by the end of 2021. Once completed, the factory is expected to be able to produce 22,000 metric tons of hydrogen per year from 100,000 metric tons of plastic waste. This would allow 150,000 hydrogen vehicles to travel 14,000 kilometers each. Hydrogen tanks and other similar pressure vessels usually require KGS factory approval to be approved for the Korean market.     In addition, the company is testing CO₂ capture and storage systems at Hyundai Steel Co.’s Incheon steel plant for plastic waste processing technology. Hyundai Engineering’s recent efforts in environmental protection are part of the company’s policy for sustainable growth. The company plans to go public to finance environmentally friendly projects such as plastic recycling and the generation of hydrogen from ammonia. Hyundai Engineering, which has not previously been listed on the stock exchange, expects to raise the equivalent of more than $1 billion. Trading of the shares is expected to begin in March 2022. Active in the construction of factories, housing and infrastructure, Hyundai Engineering reported an operating profit of the equivalent of $207.6 million in 2020. Construction of factories and infrastructure account for 45.5 percent of Hyundai Engineering’s total business. KGS factory approval for certain gas and pressure equipment was introduced to ensure that only manufacturers that meet certain quality and safety requirements are allowed to export their products to Korea. The main objective of KGS Factory Approval is to prevent accidents caused by equipment that does not meet Korean standards or is imported by unapproved manufacturers. Therefore, the authority requires verification of production processes and quality assurance before products are allowed to enter Korea. We understand that KGS factory approval can be a complex hurdle for you. MPR International GmbH offers you a complete package for KGS Korea certification, where you will receive optimal support. You will be assigned a personal contact person who will be available at all times to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs, KCs for explosion safety products or KGS factory registration. Tel. Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261 Tel. US: +1 773 654-2673 Email: info@korea-certification.com Urgent questions? Please do not hesitate to contact us via chat. You will find the chat window at the bottom right of each page (if this is not visible, please check your browser settings). For more information you can download our free brochure “Korea Certification Made Easy – The Booklet“.

Small excavator from Doosan Bobcat unveiled with transparent OLED display from LG

Construction equipment manufacturer Doosan Bobcat Inc, a subsidiary of South Korean conglomerate Doosan Group, recently unveiled the future of excavators at CES 2022 in the form of the E35e electric-powered mini-excavator with a transparent OLED display in the front windshield. A prototype developed in collaboration with the world’s only transparent OLED manufacturer LG Display Co. displays various information on the front windshield via augmented reality (AR). Products like these, which have electronic and other components, require KCs certification to be imported into South Korea.     With the novel technology, the operator of the E35e can view the surroundings and the condition of the construction site during operation while using the front windshield as a large touchscreen with AR functions. It is even possible to remotely control the excavator itself, or other excavators present on the job site, via the touchscreen or other mobile devices. The new excavator model has also been made safer to work in, with a large front screen and no distracting controls such as levers or pedals. If Doosan Bobcat decides to go into volume production of the E35e, it is expected that LG Display will supply the transparent OLED display. LG Display’s transparent OLED (organic light emitting diode) displays use technology that maximizes the ability of OLEDs to emit light without additional backlighting. Large transparent OLED displays are currently manufactured worldwide only by LG Display. Starting mass production of its transparent displays in 2019, LG Display’s 55-inch screen using OLED technology had a transparency of 40 percent. In comparison, glass has a transparency of 70 percent. Demand for transparent OLED displays is growing steadily, and this type of screen is being used in shopping malls, museums and subways. According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the global market for transparent OLEDs will grow increasingly. The experts predict a market value of $840 million in 2022, which could reach $2.47 billion in 2025 and as much as $9.9 billion in 2030. In addition to Doosan Bobcat, other companies also introduced products with transparent OLED displays. Avikus, an offshoot of Hyundai Heavy Industries that specializes in navigation systems for autonomous vehicles, showcased a self-driving boat with a transparent OLED display. KCs certification was established to ensure basic safety in the design and manufacture of hazardous machinery and protective equipment in hazardous workplaces in Korea. The goal is to protect the health and safety of workers by preventing accidents. Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs, KCs for explosion safety products or KGS factory registration. Tel. Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261 Tel. US: +1 773 654-2673 Email: info@korea-certification.com Urgent questions? Please do not hesitate to contact us via chat. You will find the chat window at the bottom right of each page (if this is not visible, please check your browser settings). For more information you can download our free brochure “Korea Certification Made Easy – The Booklet“.

Massage chair manufacturer Bodyfriend was in the spotlight at CES 2022

South Korean company Bodyfriend Co, the world’s largest massage chair manufacturer, was in the spotlight at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas due to the absence of well-known names and oversized displays. A chair with functions for checking heart functions led to long queues of interested visitors at Bodyfriend’s booth. The company participated in CES for the fifth time and exhibited a total of nine functional massage chairs. Visitors were enthusiastic about the new models, which provide information about the user’s body such as heart condition, body composition, blood pressure and even ECG, among other things. Most products like these, which have electronic and other components, require KC certification to be imported into South Korea. The “Phantom Medical Heart” uses four electrodes on the legs and arms to measure a 6-channel ECG, which is analyzed by an AI and provides early indications of illness. The “Da Vinci” will be launched in the first half of 2022 and can determine the composition of the body. Seven parameters such as muscle mass, body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI) and other data can be determined by the sensors. The information can be stored and viewed on the included tablet PC. The Pharaoh O2 model, which won the CES 2002 Innovation Award, has an oxygen function. Users can inhale oxygen during massage, which comes from a medical oxygen generator. The “Elizabeth Medical” chair measures blood pressure and offers appropriate massages for it. Another novelty is the “Phantom Rovo,” a robot-like massage chair that allows the massage of the user’s legs to be adjusted independently. With this function, it is possible to receive different massages on the respective leg. Manufacturer Bodyfriend has invested approximately $66 million in research and development over the past five years to become a digital health provider. The company plans to invest a research budget of about $16.5 million annually in the future. South Korea is considered one of the most important and innovative industrialized nations in the world. In order to gain market access to this highly technological country, products imported into South Korea must be tested and certified. The KC mark or KC certificate is roughly equivalent to the European CE mark and applies to 730 different products. Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs, KCs for explosion safety products or KGS factory registration. Tel. Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261 Tel. US: +1 773 654-2673 Email: info@korea-certification.com Urgent questions? Please do not hesitate to contact us via chat. You will find the chat window at the bottom right of each page (if this is not visible, please check your browser settings). For more information you can download our free brochure “Korea Certification Made Easy – The Booklet“.