LG Chem invests about 400 million US dollars in ABS plastics production

South Korea’s LG Chem, the chemicals business unit within the LG Group, is investing the equivalent of around US$400 million in the modernization and expansion of its ABS plastics production facility at Yeosu. The nation’s largest petrochemical company recently contracted DL Group’s construction company DL E&C to work on the Yeosu ABS production facility. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic is an impact-resistant polymer with strong resistance to heat and can be produced in a wide variety of colors. ABS is used in the automotive industry and household and electronic appliances, among other applications. To ensure basic safety in the design and manufacture of hazardous machinery and protective equipment in hazardous workplaces such as chemical plants in Korea, KCs certification is mandatory for many machines and components.     LG plans to carry out the expansion of the ABS plant in Yeosu by 2024 using energy-efficient technology. This will involve the construction of a new ABS production line with an annual capacity of 222,000 tons, while the old line producing 140,000 tons will be shut down. After the expansion, LG Chem’s annual ABS production capacity will increase from 1 million tons to 1.08 million tons. In addition to higher output, the expansion also serves to improve the safety of the plant, an LG Chem spokesman said, adding that existing equipment will be used for ongoing orders until the new plant is operational. The roughly $400 million investment is the company’s largest outside its battery division. The price of ABS rose last year due to increased demand from electronics during the Covid 19 pandemic. However, the price dropped again after the Ukraine war and China’s prolonged Covid-19 lockdown. KCs certification was introduced in South Korea 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. 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“.

Northvolt develops cylindrical cell type 2170

Battery manufacturer Northvolt recently announced the successful development of a Type 2170 round cell and plans to mass produce it soon. The specification 2170 means a diameter of 21 mm and a length of 70 mm of the individual battery cells. Northvolt’s entry into the market will further increase competitive pressure among global battery manufacturers, as South Korea’s LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI, among others, are also active in this field. Battery production may involve, among other things, components and equipment that require KC certification to be used in the Korean market.     As Business Korea writes, Northvolt introduced the new battery type in its 2021 sustainability report and on its website. It also renamed the brand names for round cells and rectangular cells to “Ling on berry Power” and “Ling on berry Life,” respectively. Northvolt was founded in 2016 and has been able to rise to become a major battery manufacturer with strong support from Volkswagen Group. The automotive group hopes to reduce its dependence on Asian cell producers through its investment. In addition to VW, Northvolt’s customers include BMW and Volvo. The global market for round cells is led by three companies: LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and Panasonic. According to analysts, Samsung SDI will feel the impact of Northvolt the most, as both companies manufacture identical products. In addition, Samsung SDI’s and Northvolt’s customers overlap, so competition could intensify. Nevertheless, South Korean battery experts believe that Northvolt is not currently at the technological level of its competitors. According to the experts, the technological lead of the South Korean manufacturers will continue for several more years. In all likelihood, they say, there will only be a shift in the market toward stronger regional supplies of battery cells. For example, European automakers could increasingly source their cells from Europe, said one industry analyst. Overall, however, demand for battery cells will increase as EVs become more widespread, and new as well as existing producers will benefit, the analyst concluded. Certifications for the Korean market are a complex hurdle and difficult to navigate due to different authorities and certification systems. With over 15 years of experience in the certification business, MPR International GmbH is your best resource for competent service when it comes to exporting to Korea. For example, KC Safety is relevant for electronics and household products mostly intended for consumers, as well as products for children and babies. 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).

Samsung works on the next generation of storage media

In July 2022, Samsung Electronics Co. unveiled an improved storage medium that significantly reduces computing time and power consumption. The storage medium is called the second generation of smart solid state drives (SSDs). Experts expect that this innovation will further consolidate Samsung’s top position in the SSD market. According to company data, Samsung owns a 40.9 percent market share in the first quarter of 2022. Samsung is also the world’s largest manufacturer of memory chips and plans to mass produce the new high-performance SSDs starting in 2024. SSDs store their data in memory chips and are well on the way to replacing conventional hard disks with magnetic storage. In Korea, electronic products and components require KC certification for electronic products to be approved for sale and use.     The new Samsung SSD processes part of the data directly instead of having it calculated by the CPU. This reduces data traffic between hardware such as the CPU, GPU and RAM. Samsung claims that compared to current SSDs, computing time is reduced by 50 percent, power consumption is reduced by 70 percent, and CPU usage is reduced by 97 percent. According to Samsung, the new technology is designed to eliminate bottlenecks in data movement between storage media and CPUs. At the same time, system performance and energy efficiency increases. The new second-generation Samsung SSD could be used in applications with high computing power such as artificial intelligence, Big Data, deep learning, and 5G and 6G mobile networks. Certifications for the Korean market are a complex hurdle and difficult to navigate due to different authorities and certification systems. With over 15 years of experience in the certification business, MPR International GmbH is your best resource for competent service when it comes to exporting to Korea. For example, KC Safety is relevant for electronics and household products mostly intended for consumers, as well as products for children and babies. 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“.

Popularity of imported luxury vehicles on the rise in both South Korea and Japan

In South Korea in 2021, the number of imported new cars each priced above 100 million won (about $81,000) was more than 59,000 units. This represents 22 percent of all imported vehicles to South Korea. A total of around 277,000 imported vehicles were sold in South Korea last year. Similar figures were reported for Japan by the Japan Automobile Import Association. There, over 28,700 vehicles were sold, each priced at more than 010 million yen (about $79,000). This represents a 23 percent increase over 2020 and is the highest figure since it was recorded in 2003. The total number of imported vehicles sold in Japan last year numbered more than 259,000 units. Many products linked to the automotive manufacture industries, f.e. example certain assembly line machinery and others, need a KCs certification in order to be allowed import and use in the Korean market.     An automotive industry expert attributed the rising popularity to two reasons: the restriction of overseas travel due to the Covid 19 pandemic and a strong stock market in the two countries. This led to higher disposable income and more luxury vehicle purchases. In contrast, the market in Korea and Japan faces several challenges in 2022. Both the shortage of semiconductors, the global pandemic and the situation in Ukraine led to impairments of the production chains. Observers continue to wait for further developments and are looking for an early recovery of sales figures after the crises have ended, as semiconductors have become more available again and more and more lockdowns in logistically critical cities such as Shanghai are being lifted by their governments. Does your company operate in the automotive industry and have or plan to have business relationships with South Korea? Many products imported into South Korea need to be pre-tested and certified. MPR International GmbH recommends itself as a partner for your Korea certification. We will be pleased to check for you, without obligation, whether your products are subject to certification and to prepare an attractive offer for you. 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“.

Team Event 2022 for MPR International in Frankfurt

This year’s team event of MPR International took place on September 14, 2022. After a long time of planning, a date was found where all members of the team from Germany could come together.     After the preliminary sports program in the form of stand-up paddling (SUP) on the river Main had to be postponed for the time being due to rain, the group gathered in the evening for a joint cooking class, which was professionally guided. Under the helpful and instructive supervision of the professional chef from Ketao present, a wonderful 6-course meal was prepared in collaboration. The dishes were refined according to the recommendations of the chef, with magnificent results. The event offered a lot of opportunity for exchange and there with an excellent atmosphere. The sociability and the gathering of all employees from Germany was a special and valuable experience for us all. We are glad that everyone enjoyed it and are grateful for the strong team spirit that prevails in our company. MPR International would also like to thank its customers for their continued trust. We continue to be at your disposal for professional consulting and implementation of certification projects world-wide.

Machinery manufacturer SFA plans to expand business beyond screens

South Korean machinery maker SFA, previously active in manufacturing machinery for the display screen industry, plans to expand its business to include semiconductors, batteries and logistics. This is necessary to give the company a broader base, CEO Kim Young-min told The Korea Times newspaper. He expects SFA to increase orders from the battery and logistics sectors as early as this year. Kim went on to say that his company aims to become the market leader in “smart factory equipment” in the long run. Many industry experts believe this sector promises high growth potential as digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data analytics help companies make better products more cheaply. In addition, SFA aims to actively target overseas markets and customers with its smart factory solutions and become a global market leader, Kim said. Products in these categories generally require KC Safety certification for electronic products in order to be approved for the Korean market.     SFA was founded in 1998 and has since specialized in the design and manufacture of automated machinery and systems for the display industry. However, board member Kim recognized the need for his company to diversify to be less dependent on the volatile display industry. SFA’s transformation began as early as 2017 and could show initial success in 2021, Kim said. Most promising, he said, are automated equipment for the production of EV batteries. These will continue to account for the largest share of new business at SFA, according to Kim. SFA’s machines can be used in automatic safety testing and quality control of automotive batteries, among other applications. For the current year, SFA has already received an order from a major Korean battery manufacturer, and more orders from other companies are on the horizon for the second half of the year, Kim said. To expand its position in the market, SFA is developing equipment for assembling battery packs from individual cells, as used in the automotive industry or battery manufacturing, in addition to inspection machines. Certifications for the Korean market are a complex hurdle and difficult to navigate due to different authorities and certification systems. With over 15 years of experience in the certification business, MPR International GmbH is your best contact for competent service when it comes to exporting to Korea. For example, KC Safety is relevant for electronics and household products mostly intended for consumers, as well as products for children and babies. Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC for electronic products, 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“.

Coway introduces new Icon Water Purifier 2 water filter

South Korean company Coway, a specialist in water and air filters, recently unveiled the second generation of its Icon Water Purifier water filter. Consumers in South Korea are becoming more discerning in their choice of water filters, which have become major household appliances in recent years, according to media reports. In general, devices with appealing designs and small footprints are the most popular. Customers are also concerned about the cleanliness inside the devices in the wake of increasing pollution and COVID-19. Therefore, it is important to choose a manufacturer whose water filter regularly checks the filter quality and suggests changing the filter. Water filters, air filters and similar products for household use often require KC Safety certification to ensure the safety and quality of the product, qualifying it for the Korean market.     Coway took all these influences as an opportunity to develop the Icon Water Purifier 2. This has a modern design and novel purification functions. For example, every six hours, the device performs a 15-minute sterilization of the tap with UV light. In addition, the water filter notifies the owner when a filter needs to be changed. Most of the components are made of Tritan, a special plastic from Eastman Chemical that prevents microorganisms from settling. The special design of the cartridges allows the user to easily remove and clean them. The Icon Water Purifier 2 water filter also passed a materials test conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Compared to Coway’s first-generation Icon water filter, the latest version features an improved filtration system, hot water temperature control and pressure regulator. A 7-inch nano trap filter that has been increased in size by one inch over the previous model. The nano-filter is capable of filtering out a total of 94 harmful substances from tap water, including viruses, plasticizers and algae toxins. Certifications for the Korean market are a complex hurdle and difficult to navigate due to different agencies and certification systems. With over 15 years of experience in the certification business, MPR International GmbH is your best resource for competent service when it comes to exporting to Korea. For example, KC Safety is relevant for electronics and household products mostly intended for consumers, as well as products for children and babies. Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KC Safety certification, 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“.

Two “green” business units of South Korea’s SK begin collaboration with overseas firms

Specifically, the two divisions are the chemicals and recycling divisions of SK, South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate. As reported by Pulsenews, the collaboration with new global partners is expected to improve SK Group’s CO₂ balance and become a top player in South Korea and abroad in the future. SK Chemicals signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Shuye Environmental Technoloy, aiming to establish a joint venture. SK Chemicals is to hold 51 percent of the shares in the joint venture. Last May, SK Chemicals already acquired a ten percent stake in Shuye worth around 17 million US dollars. In return, the Chinese company will supply SK with 20,000 metric tons of chemical recycling material annually. The newly formed joint venture is building a depolymerization plant with a capacity of 100,000 tons of raw material and another plant to produce 200,000 tons of recycled polyethylene (CR-PET) and co-polyester under the management of SK Chemicals. The two plants are scheduled to start operations at the end of 2024. SK Chemicals introduced two new environmentally friendly plastics last year: co-polyester Ectotria CR and chemically recycled PET called Skypet CR. Machinery and equipment to carry out these projects usually falls and KCs certification and under KC-EMC testing regulations to be allowed to be imported and used in Korea.     Another SK Group company, SK geo centric, will cooperate with the French company Veolia in the future. A memorandum of understanding was also signed for this purpose, which involves expanding plastics recycling in Asia. To this end, both companies are researching processes for the pyrolysis of PET, PP and plastic waste, as well as an expansion of SK’s geo centric recycling center in Ulsan, South Korea. SK geo centric President and CEO Na Kyung-soo said he was pleased with the cooperation with Veolia: “This is the start of a circular economy in the Asian market and shows the competencies of both companies in the field of environmentally friendly solutions. SK geo centric plans to become the circular economy market leader in Asia with its plastic waste recycling plant in Ulsan, Kyung-soo added. KCs certification was introduced in South Korea 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. We provide certification services for all product areas, including KC certification for consumer products and especially electronics, KC-EMC 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. 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“.

International Hydrogen Consortium under Korean leadership begins work

South Korea, the United States and 16 other countries established a working alliance in May to accelerate cooperation in the development of the hydrogen industry, an industry ministry spokesman said. Member countries of the Global Hydrogen Industrial Association Alliance reported on the current status of their hydrogen industries and planned policies at the founding event in Seoul. Led by South Korea, the alliance plans to establish a network for contacts and a hub for hydrogen data and information. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, this should help develop the technology and reduce regulatory restrictions. Participating countries at the first meeting included China, the United Kingdom, Germany and Singapore. Pressure vessels and similar product categories associated with the production of hydrogen require approval through the Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS) to be distributed and used in Korea.     Deputy Industry Minister Park Il-jun promoted building large-scale hydrogen production plants in South Korea, as well as facilities for transport and storage both domestically and abroad. This is expected to create a complete system from production through distribution and use of the gas. South Korea’s efforts stem from its shift in energy production from nuclear power and coal to clean and sustainable energy sources. Hydrogen is an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels because it releases only water during the combustion process. Hydrogen gas is produced as a byproduct in industry and petrochemical plants, among others. 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 announces strategic roadmap for SMR reactors and hydrogen generation

South Korean company Hyundai Engineering is stepping up its activities in micro-reactors (SMR) and hydrogen generation. As a result, Hyundai hopes to lead the way in energy security and CO₂ emissions reduction. According to its strategic roadmap for nuclear reactors and engineering services in the energy sector, the company aims to expand its business to include small and micro modular reactors (SMR and MMR, respectively), hydrogen production, nuclear power plant decommissioning, and fissile material fuel production for nuclear power plants. Based on its capabilities in power plant design and manufacturing, Hyundai aims to become a major competitor in the modular reactor field. Pressure vessels and similar product categories associated with the production of hydrogen require approval through the Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS) to be distributed and used in Korea.     Hyundai Engineering plans to secure rights to engineer, procure and construct microreactors in Canada, the U.S. and Poland by 2029. In doing so, the company is applying its experience from the MMR project in Chalk River, Canada. It is also working on technical improvements for the production of hydrogen in large quantities under a high-temperature process. Regarding nuclear power plant decommissioning and fuel rod disposal, Hyundai plans to participate in the design of interim storage facilities for the disposal of nuclear waste from the microreactors. In addition, the strategy calls for securing additional rights overseas for pyrolysis and treatment of radioactive waste. According to the company, it is prepared for the decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear power plants in South Korea. Based on Hyundai’s experience with the OYSTER research reactor in the Netherlands, the company hopes to gain further participation in similar projects in South Africa and Bangladesh. We provide certification services for all product areas, including KC certification for consumer products and especially electronics, KC EMC 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, 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“.