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Introduction to “Technical Certifications in China, India, Korea”

In June and July 2022, the Hanover Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) will offer a series of online seminars created and conducted by us, MPR International.
The seminars are aimed at quality management representatives of industrial companies as well as project engineers or project managers responsible for certifications of products for China, India or Korea.

The free introductory event on 18.05.2022, 9:15-10:00 a.m. provides an overview of the certification landscape of the respective countries, which will be covered comprehensively and in depth in the individual seminars and is intended to give an insight into what you can expect in the individual seminars.
Registration is required for the introductory event.
The in-depth seminars will focus on the following countries and industries:

At MPR International, we have been assisting hundreds of companies worldwide with certifications for the Chinese, Korean and Indian markets since 2005.
If you would like to receive more information about any of the certifications in advance, please visit our website or contact us by email or at +49692713769259.

The company Korea Zinc plans to double the production of raw materials for batteries

South Korea’s Korea Zinc Co. is considered the country’s leading lead and zinc smelter and plans to double its production capacity of nickel sulfate. The raw material is considered an important component of battery cathodes. The company expects increasing demand from battery manufacturers due to growth in the EV market. A subsidiary of Korea Zinc, Korea Energy Materials Co. (KEMCO), is responsible for producing the nickel sulfate. According to industry insiders, KEMCO purchased a roughly 16,000-square-meter plot of land to expand its production capacity from the current 50,000 tons annually to 80,000 to 100,000 tons. Production material for battery manufacturing in most cases requires KCs certification, or KCs certification for explosion-proof products, to be used in Korea.     Nickel sulfate is considered a major precursor material for the production of cathodes and is one of the four components of lithium-ion batteries. It is produced by adding sulfuric acid to high-purity nickel. The resulting material can be used by battery manufacturers for cathodes without further processing steps. This speeds up the production process and reduces costs. By expanding its production capacity, Korea Zinc hopes to increase its market share in the global battery market. The industry already produces 90 percent of its cathodes from nickel sulfate. With these batteries, the range could be increased and production costs reduced. On average, the battery of an EV requires between 50 and 100 kilograms of nickel. Thus, after the expansion, Korea Zinc’s 100,000-ton facility can meet the needs of 1,000 to 2,000 EVs annually. Based on the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) requires KCs Ex certification of explosion-proof electrical components. Korea has been conducting Ex approvals since 1992. 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. 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“.

Sustainable fossil fuel production becomes necessary for South Korean oil refinery operators

For decades, South Korea’s four major oil refinery operators set an example for the entire industry in terms of upgrading their facilities. These multi-billion dollar investments often resulted in higher costs and lower profits. Leading refiner SK Energy, as well as local giants GS Caltex Corp, S-Oil Corp and Hyundai Oilbank Co, have invested large sums in upgrading their facilities to produce high-quality end products such as gasoline from low-cost crude. Hyundai Oilbank’s expansion or upgrade rate of 40.6 percent is among the highest in the industry worldwide, followed by GS Caltex at 34.4 percent, S-Oil at 33.8 percent and SK Energy at 24.9 percent. This compares with refineries in China and Japan at around 20 percent, and plants in Russia and Saudi Arabia at 10 percent. Products from the oil and gas industry require certification to a large extent on the Korean market. Gas and pressure vessels usually require KGS factory approval.     With the global trend toward sustainable energy production, so-called ESG (environmental, social, governance) goals have also become standard in the energy sector. Refinery operators around the world are looking for new revenue streams beyond the traditional oil business to continue making profits. South Korean companies are even considering changing their corporate name to move away from the image of the dirty oil business and invest more in renewable energy. Still, operators must continue to invest in their plants to remain competitive, analysts say. Analysts believe companies have no option but to continue upgrading their facilities, as more than two-thirds of revenues come from refining operations. To boost profits, some refiners are now sourcing cheaper crude from South America. For example, Hyundai Oilbank last year bought Colombia Castilla, an oil grade that is inferior to oil from the Middle East but costs about 10 percent less. As a result, the share of oil imported from countries other than the Middle East rose from 45 to 65.3 percent and 18.2 to 25.3 percent for both Hyundai and GS Caltex, respectively. Meanwhile, SK Innovation, the parent company of SK Energy, has announced plans to become an environmentally friendly company in the long term and to invest about $24 billion in restructuring projects by 2025. We offer certification services for all product areas, including KGS factory approvals for high-pressure and gas appliances. 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“.

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“.

POSCO brings neon gas production and related technology to South Korea

POSCO, a conglomerate, has established the first neon gas production facility in South Korea. Neon is a noble gas and is required for the production of semiconductors. POSCO celebrated the completion of the plant within the oxygen factory of the Gwangyang Steelworks complex on Jan. 12. “Local production of neon gas has been a long-held desire,” said Yoo Byung-ok, head of POSCO’s industrial gases and hydrogen business. “With the commissioning of the plant, we have been able to reduce South Korea’s dependence on foreign imports of rare gases and stabilize the domestic supply chain,” Byung-ok added. In Korea, approvals for such gases have been carried out since 1992, under which KCs certificates are issued for explosion-proof products.     The rapid growth of the semiconductor market is boosting demand for noble gases such as neon (Ne), xenon (Xe) and krypton (Kr), which are indispensable for semiconductor production. Industry experts expect the domestic South Korean market to increase from $130 million in 2020 to $228 million in 2023, with a compound annual growth rate of 20 percent. Currently, the Korean semiconductor industry is 100 percent dependent on noble gas imports. Neon is a noble gas that makes up only 0.00182 percent of ambient air. It is one of the raw materials for gas lasers (excimer lasers) used in the lithography process in semiconductor manufacturing. Attempts have been made in the past to bring the production of neon gas to South Korea, but they failed because of dependence on foreign technology to produce it. POSCO’s just-completed plant can produce about 22,000 cubic meters of high-purity neon gas annually. This could meet about 16 percent of domestic demand. POSCO already conducted a test run of the neon gas plant for quality control at the end of 2021, and commercial operation is scheduled to start in 2022. We offer 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 at your disposal for all questions regarding Korea certifications. Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions. 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“.

Groundbreaking ceremony for new LG Chem cathode material plant in Gumi, South Korea

LG Chem broke ground on the world’s largest cathode material production facility on 11 January 2022 in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. The company is investing the equivalent of US$417 billion to build the plant, which will supply cathode material to LG Energy Solutions. LG Chem is the largest shareholder of LG Energy Solutions with 80 per cent. The annual production capacity is said to be 60,000 tonnes per year. This makes the plant the world’s largest production facility for cathode material. With the amount produced, batteries for up to 500,000 EVs can be manufactured annually. The LG Chem factory in Gumi produces cathodes from nickel, cobalt, manganese and aluminium. Batteries with these cathodes have a high energy density and a nickel content of up to 90 percent. Based on the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) requires KCs Ex certification of explosion-proof electrical components.     Raw materials for cathodes such as nickel, lithium and cobalt could become scarce in the future. Therefore, global battery manufacturers are trying to bring their cathode production in-house. Currently, LG Chem has an annual capacity of 80,000 tonnes for cathode material. The company produces cathode material at three domestic plants in Cheongju, Gumi and Iksan. Outside South Korea, it operates a joint plant with Huayu Cobalt in Wuxi, China. LG Chem plans to expand its cathode material production by 225 per cent by 2026, including plants in Europe and the US. The subsidiary LG Energy Solutions is estimated to have produced batteries with a capacity of 150 GWh in 2021. These could be used to equip around 2.25 million EVs. By 2025, it plans to expand production capacity to 400 GWh, LG Energy Solutions said. Approvals in the Ex area have been carried out in Korea since 1992. KCs certification was introduced to ensure basic safety in the design and manufacture of hazardous machinery and protective equipment in hazardous workplaces in Korea. The aim is to protect the health and safety of workers by preventing accidents. We offer 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. Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications: 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 Oilbank plans to build new power plant powered by natural gas and hydrogen

South Korean refiner Hyundai Oilbank Co. is planning to build an environmentally friendly power plant that will run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen. This is to meet the growing electricity demand of the Hyundai Oilbank refinery in Daesan, South Korea. The company announced on 22 December 2021 that it is investing US$335.4 million to build the new power plant. After completion and commissioning in 2025, the plant will be able to generate 230 tonnes of steam per hour as well as 290 megawatts of electricity. The fuel will be a mix of 70 percent natural gas (LNG) and 30 percent blue hydrogen (i.e. from fossil sources). Gas and pressure equipment from the power generation sector often require KGS factory approval to be approved for the Korean market.     Mixed combustion of natural gas and hydrogen is a step towards CO₂ neutrality for Hyundai Oilbank, CEO Kang Dal-ho told Korea Economic Daily. “Power plants that burn natural gas already emit 56 per cent less climate-damaging emissions. By blending hydrogen, emissions can be reduced by another 11 per cent,” Kang Dal-ho said. The new power plant will supply steam and electricity for Hyundai Oilbank’s own facilities as well as for other companies in the Daesan industrial area such as Hyundai Chemical, Hyundai and Shell Base Oil. The Daesan Industrial Estate will require more energy in the future due to the expansion and commissioning of new plants such as the “Hyundai Chemical heavy feed petrochemical complex (HPC)”. To ensure power supply, Hyundai Oilbank established Hyundai E&F subsidiary in June 2021 and got permission to generate electricity and steam. Hyundai E&F’s plants are expected to meet more than half of the Daesan Industrial Estate’s energy needs, with Hyundai Oilbank being the largest consumer of electricity, accounting for 70 per cent. Previously, the refinery had produced some of the energy it needed itself in the form of steam and electricity. The Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS) is a government organisation under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). Gas safety regulations in Korea began in 1974 with the passage of the Compressed Gas Control Act. In 1995, the Institute of High Pressure Gas Safety was established, and after several restructurings, the Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS) was established in 2001. One year later, KGS was affiliated to MOTIE. KGS was accredited as a Korean Notified Body in 2006 and also accredited to conduct KCs certification and testing of explosion-proof electrical equipment. We offer 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 at your disposal for all questions regarding Korea certifications. Feel free to contact us any time if you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications. 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“.
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