Rising vehicle imports in South Korea despite Covid 19 pandemic

The Association of Korean Auto Importers and Distributors announced the latest figures on November 4. In October, 24,157 imported vehicles were newly registered, an increase of 9.8 percent over the previous year. A total of 216,004 vehicles were sold in the first ten months of the year. This represents an increase of 14.2 percent over the same period last year.

 

 

Broken down by manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz was able to maintain its leading position with 6,576 vehicles, but lost 18.1 percent compared to October 2019. Mercedes benefited from new models of its E-Class, which is now in its 10th generation, as well as the new plug-in hybrid SUV GLC 300e 4MATIC. BMW follows in second place with 5,320 vehicles, an increase of around 29 percent. The other places are occupied by Audi with 2,527, Volkswagen 1,933, Volvo 1,449, Jeep 937 and Mini 890 vehicles. Japanese manufacturers were also able to make good their losses. Thanks to the popularity of hybrid vehicles, the sales figures of Lexus rose by 91 percent to 871 vehicles and Toyota by 35 percent to 553 vehicles.

The best-selling import vehicle in South Korea in October was the Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI with 1,089 units. In second place is the Volvo XC40 B4 AWD (1,017 units), followed by the BMW 520 (834 units), Mercedes E 220d 4MATIC (622 units) and finally the Mercedes GLA 250 4MATIC (585 units). Lim Han-kyu, deputy chairman of the Association of Korean Automobile Importers and Distributors, explained that the increase in vehicle imports was due to the introduction of new models and their adequate procurement by the dealers. MPR International GmbH will be pleased to advise them regarding a Korean certification in the automotive sector. We have already successfully accompanied many large automotive suppliers and also vehicle manufacturers with locations in Korea in their certification projects and have been supporting these companies for several years.

If you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs or KCs for explosion safety products, feel free to contact us any time.

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Doosan Logistics Solutions markets Geek+ robots for Korean distribution centers

Doosan Logistics Solutions Co. (DLS), the logistics and automation provider of the South Korean conglomerate Doosan Group, has signed an exclusive agreement with Geek+ to distribute autonomous logistics robots in Korean distribution centers. Geek+ is China’s leading manufacturer of logistics robots. The agreement includes the exclusive right of DLS to distribute Geek+ logistics robots in South Korea and to perform maintenance and repair work. The rapid growth of online commerce and contactless shopping highlights the importance of accessible and efficiently operated logistics centers. Founded in May 2019, Doosan Logistics Solutions offers its customers a complete solution that includes planning, setup and software for logistics and distribution centers.

 

 

Geek+ is the world’s largest provider of autonomous logistics robots with a market share of 16 percent. The company has already sold more than 10,000 robots for automated warehouses and has gained more than 200 customers since its establishment in 2015, including Walmart, Nike and Dell. The automated robots for picking and placing shipments in the warehouse increase productivity by up to 300 percent, and the robots for distributing shipments within the warehouse by up to 500 percent. The robots communicate within the warehouse using radio modules such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or 4G/5G. For products with radio technologies, KC EMC certification is required to gain access to the South Korean market. This applies to products with radio technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID or other wireless communication technologies. MPR International GmbH has solid experience in Korea certification and competent local partners.

If you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs or KCs for explosion safety products, feel free to contact us any time.

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Korean chip maker SK Hynix expects to triple sales by 2025

South Korean chip maker SK Hynix expects sales of its NAND memory chips to triple in the next five years, following the recent acquisition of the relevant business unit from Intel in October 2020. NAND memory chips, also known as flash memory, are built into memory cards, USB drives, SSD drives and smartphones, among other things. Industrial applications include scientific instruments, robots and medical devices. Flash memory offers fast access times but is surpassed by RAM or ROM memory. The advantage of flash memory is its relatively high resistance to shock and vibration, which is why it has largely replaced conventional hard drives in portable devices.

 

 

“The company will grow self-sustained in the NAND memory segment over the next three years and triple its sales in this business over the next five years,” said SK Hynix CEO Leo Seok-hee during a conference call to announce third quarter results. SK Hynix was already considered a market leader in DRAM and is now considered a global leader in memory manufacturing following the acquisition of Intel’s NAND division. SK Hynix acquired Intel’s businesses in October 2020 for $9 billion. These include the SSD hard disk drive operations and a NAND chip plant in Dalian, China. Last year, SK Hynix sold $4.5 billion of NAND storage, or 19 percent of its total $24 billion business turnover. Prior to the acquisition, Intel’s storage division reported sales of $4.4 billion in 2019.

SK Hynix intends to strengthen its global market position by acquiring Intel’s storage business and to expand and enhance its SSD product portfolio. The company also plans to balance its DRAM and flash memory businesses. Semiconductor industry analysts have seen an increase in global DRAM chip purchases, citing Huawei’s U.S. trade ban. The Chinese company secured large sums of semiconductors in the global market before the ban took effect on September 15, 2020. In the case of SK Hynix, DRAM memory sales accounted for 75 percent, while NAND flash memory achieved 24 percent. Both figures were calculated for the third quarter of 2020. South Korea is considered one of the most important and innovative industrial nations in the world. Many products imported into South Korea must be tested and certified in advance.

If you need assistance or have any questions regarding Korean certifications like KC, KC EMC, KCs or KCs for explosion safety products, feel free to contact us any time.

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Hyundai Motor exports first fuel cell system to Europe

South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor maintains its leading role in the field of hydrogen technology by exporting fuel cells. The delivery to a Swiss company is the first export of fuel cells instead of complete hydrogen-powered vehicles. Hyundai’s 95 kilowatt fuel cell system, which typically powers the Nexo SUV, will soon be delivered to the Swiss company GRZ Technologies as well as to another European start-up in the emergency power supply sector. According to the Korean Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, Hyundai’s deliveries are expected to increase in 2022, after European companies have completed a one-year test phase of the system.

 

 

GRZ Technologies has its own metal-hybrid technology for hydrogen storage and is currently developing compressors and sensors for the serial production of its systems. The systems can store five to ten times the amount of hydrogen than conventional tanks at a low pressure of less than 10 bar. Hyundai Motor and GRZ Technologies have been working together on this technology since October 2019. Decisive for the export of the first units was the announcement of the European Commission of its strategy with hydrogen as energy carrier of the future. With the help of clean energy from hydrogen, the EU wants to reduce its CO2 emissions and become climate neutral by 2050.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor has built the world’s first production line for hydrogen-powered trucks and delivered 10 vehicles to Switzerland. It is hoped that this will further strengthen its leading role in the hydrogen sector in Europe. In addition, the company is in talks with 20 other interested companies from the USA and China. Hyundai CEO Chung Euisun confirmed in July the importance of hydrogen for the global energy economy. In his opinion fuel cells will be used in the future to generate energy in airplanes, ships, trains and houses. Last month Hyundai already signed an agreement with Australia’s national science agency CSIRO and the Fortescue Metals Group to research new hydrogen technologies. MPR International GmbH offers certification services in South Korea for all product areas, including KC certification for consumer products and especially electronics, KC EMC certification for electronic produts, and KC’s certification for machinery and explosion-proof products. We are at your disposal for any questions about Korea certifications.c

If you need assistance or have any questions, feel free to contact us any time.

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Chemical companies work on environmentally friendly “green” plastics

Under the circumstances of this predicted enormous growth, South Korean chemical companies are increasing their efforts in research and development and in the expansion of production facilities. LG Chem has recently developed a fully biodegradable plastic with properties identical to those of conventional plastics. In addition, LG Chem has entered into a strategic partnership with Neste, the world’s largest biodiesel company, to develop environmentally friendly materials for the industry from renewable, biologically produced raw materials.

 

 

Within the SK Group, the SKC and SK Chemicals divisions focus on the development of environmentally friendly materials. SKC already brought biodegradable plastic films made of polylactides to market maturity in 2009. These are successfully used for the packaging of food, packaging labels, plastic bags and other products. SK Chemicals introduced Ecotria, a raw material for packaging of cosmetic products, which consists of a mixture of copolyester with recycled PET. Hanwha Solutions, on the other hand, is working on a compound of polyethylene and biodegradable plastic to overcome the limitations of using PLA and PBAT.

The Samyang Group was able to successfully synthesize the substance isosorbide as early as 2014 and produce it in an industrial process. The material, which is made from natural raw materials derived from plant starch, can replace chemical substances in paints and adhesives. The chemical company CJ CheilJedang is expanding its business to the development of biodegradable or renewable raw materials. To this end, it will build a new production line for the manufacture of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in Pasuruan, Indonesia, next year. The plant will have a capacity of 5,000 tons of the biodegradable and also ocean-degradable material. Many products imported into South Korea must be tested and certified in advance. KC certification, or Korea Certification, is all about identifying and mitigating a potential risk to safety, health and the environment. The KC Mark or KC Certificate is similar to the European CE mark and applies to 730 different products. MPR International GmbH – Korea Certification is represented by its own subsidiaries at five locations and thus completely covers the demand for certification services for the South Korean market. Our experts are available to you at any time and without obligation to answer your questions regarding a Korea certification.

If you need assistance or have any questions, feel free to contact us any time.

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Hyundai Group sold 350,000 “green” vehicles in 2019

According to a report by the Korean Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA), a total of 5.27 million vehicles with alternative drive systems were sold worldwide. Alternative drives include fuel cells, plug-in hybrids and hybrid vehicles as well as battery-powered electric vehicles. The sales figures for these vehicles rose by 14.4 percent to a new record high in 2019. Hybrid vehicles accounted for the lion’s share of these sales, at 3.17 million, an increase of 20 percent. Their sales figure and year-on-year increase is the highest since 2015. 2.1 million battery-powered electric cars were sold, 6.1 percent more than in the previous year. According to analysts, there was weaker demand in this segment due to the withdrawal of subsidies for electric vehicles in China.

 

 

By manufacturer brand, Toyota leads the way with a share of 37 percent or 1.98 million vehicles, an increase of 17.9 percent over the previous year. The Japanese company accounts for around 60 percent of global sales of hybrid vehicles or 1.92 million units. Tesla is in second place with 460,000 vehicles and an increase of 80.3 percent, Honda is in third place with 390,000 vehicles and an increase of 27.4 percent. Hyundai and Kia, which are based in South Korea, are in fourth place worldwide with 350,000 vehicles sold with alternative drive systems, an increase of 25.1 percent over the previous year. Broken down into individual vehicle categories, the Hyundai Group has sold 220,000 hybrid vehicles and 130,000 battery-powered vehicles. Compared to the previous year, sales figures rose by 32.7 and 14.5 percent respectively.

Looking at battery-powered electric vehicles, Tesla is the market leader for the second year in a row, followed by BYD from China, followed by BMW, Hyundai and Kia. The global sales markets for electric vehicles, broken down by region, show an enormous increase of 51.1 percent over the previous year in Europe, with 1.5 million vehicles sold. China follows in second place with 1.31 million and a plus of 7.6 percent. The decline in China is due to the discontinuation or reduction of subsidies for electric cars. In third place is Japan with 1.14 million vehicles and a slight increase of 0.5 percent.

MPR International GmbH will be happy to advise you regarding a Korea certification in the automotive sector. We have already successfully accompanied many large automotive suppliers and also vehicle manufacturers with locations in Korea in their certification projects and have been supporting these companies for several years. Our experts are available to you at any time by phone or e-mail for questions regarding an upcoming Korea certification.

If you need assistance or have any questions, feel free to contact us any time.

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KGS Becomes First IECEx Approved Certification Body under Service Facility Scheme in Asia

The Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS) is the first certification body in Asia that has been accredited under the IECEx Service Facility Scheme. This allows KGS to certify maintenance and repair companies for explosion-proof equipment under the IEC 60079-19 standard.

The IECEx Service Facility Scheme is an international ex-proof certification system that evaluates the technical capabilities of companies in charge of maintenance and repair of explosion-proof equipment used in hazardous areas. The IEC 60079-19 standard was published in 2006 and standardizes the requirements and necessary competencies for the repair and maintenance of ex-proof equipment. Apart from standardizing and elevating safety standards, the norm makes accreditation much easier and more transparent, because it provides one universally accepted accreditation.

 

 

An IECEx Certificate of Conformity shows that a Service Facility obtaining the certification has been independently assessed. A successful certification shows that a company has competent and trained staff, appropriate equipment and implemented procedures that can be relied on for repair, overhaul or modification work in compliance with IECEx requirements, like IEC 60079-19. Furthermore, it shows, that the location of the service facility has been audited and their quality system is in conformity with IECEx requirements.

There are only 16 certification bodies worldwide that are accredited under this scheme.

KGS became an IECEx certified body in 2003 and the addition of this new certification scope makes it possible to provide maintenance company certification services for explosion-proof devices in all industries.

In Korea, KGS CODE GC103, a standard on Inspection and Maintenance of Explosion-Proof Electrical Equipment, was established in 2018, which stipulates in detail the required staff qualifications, inspections and type of methods for safe maintenance of explosion-proof devices. This helped KGS with achieving the IECEx accreditation and will open up more business for explosion-proof manufacturers and service companies.

Do you have questions about the KCs certification for explosion proof components? We can assist with the certification of your explosion proof products in Korea. Please do not hesitate to contact us via chat. You will find the chat window at the bottom right of every page (if this is not visible, please check your browser settings).

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 and KCs for explosion-proof products. We are at your disposal for any questions about Korea certifications.

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Email: info@korea-certification.com

South Korean companies leading in hydrogen technology for transportation

The Hyundai Motor Group announced that it will invest a total of 6.19 billion US dollars in the development of a hydrogen industry by 2030. It will create 51,000 new jobs and produce 500,000 hydrogen vehicles. In July of this year they started the world’s first serial production of commercial vehicles with fuel cells and exported them to Switzerland. The Hyundai Rotem division has recently added hydrogen filling stations to its services. The company’s own hydrogen conversion plant in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, is scheduled to start operations this year. In addition, Hyundai Mobis has built a new fuel cell manufacturing plant in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province in 2018 and plans to expand annual production capacity to 40,000 units by 2022.

 

 

Another company from South Korea, the Hanwa Group, is working on the production of environmentally friendly “green” hydrogen, which is produced from renewable energies such as photovoltaics instead of oil or natural gas. To this end, the chemicals division, Hanwa Solutions, has invested 26.4 million US dollars in a plant for the production of hydrogen using the electrolysis process. The joint project between Hanwa and the German government is scheduled to start in 2023. Q Cells, a subsidiary of Hanwa, is to supply and operate the solar plants, while the Chemicals division will be responsible for the production of hydrogen, which will be stored in tanks developed in-house. Hanwa Energy has already built and commissioned a power plant in July, which will be operated with residues from the petrochemical industry that are converted into hydrogen. The costs amounted to 226 million US dollars, the plant has a capacity of 50 megawatts and can generate up to 400,000 MWh of energy annually.

 

In the city of Ulsan, Hyosung and the Linde Group are building what is currently the largest plant for the production of liquid hydrogen. The plant is scheduled to be completed in 2022 and cost 266 million US dollars. The liquid hydrogen will be used to power vehicles, drones, ships and forklift trucks. In addition, 120 filling stations for liquid hydrogen are to be built nationwide. MPR International GmbH – Korea Certification is represented by its own companies at five locations and thus completely covers the demand for certification services for the South Korean market. 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 and KCs for explosion-proof products. We are at your disposal for any questions about Korea certifications. Let us advise you free of charge!

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South Korea strengthens international cooperation in research for future technologies

The South Korean government would like to strengthen international cooperation in research on groundbreaking, future technologies. The three designated fields of research are self-driving vehicles, semiconductor materials and machines, and a next-generation mobile communication network called 6G. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy recently invited leading research and development institutions from both in Korea and abroad to participate in various projects. On behalf of the ministry, the Korea Institute for Advcancement of Technology (KIAT) accepted the applications at the end of September.

 

 

The ministry plans to five-fold increase international projects in the research field by 2023. Currently, international projects account for less than three percent of all government-supported projects. Therefore, the ministry will select 4 teams each for eight concrete research projects. Research will be conducted on new LEDs for displays, exposure for semiconductor production, sensors for self-driving vehicles, robot-human integration and 6G networks. The eight areas were determined after evaluating a survey of Korean industry to determine which technologies they believe will be most important in the future. The winning teams will receive prize money equivalent to $844,000 per year for three years. The Ministry will announce the winners in October 2020.

This is the first time that South Korea has called for such a competition independently of foreign governments or researchers. In the past, there have been difficulties in technology transfer when foreign government research institutions were involved, said a KIAT spokesperson. With the new approach, i.e. research areas defined by Korean industry and selected research teams, the ministry hopes to achieve concrete results for the domestic economy.

Many products imported into South Korea must be tested and certified in advance. KC certification, or Korea Certification, is primarily aimed at identifying and containing a potential risk to safety, health and the environment. The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) is responsible for KC certification in South Korea. It is part of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). The KATS establishes a legal framework for the market introduction of various consumer goods to ensure consumer safety. MPR International GmbH – Korea Certification is represented by its own subsidiaries at five locations and thus completely covers the demand for certification services for the South Korean market. We are at your disposal for any questions about Korea certifications without obligation.

If you need assistance or have any questions, feel free to contact us any time.

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LG founds global alliance to research new materials using artificial intelligence

The global alliance will use artificial intelligence (AI) and robots to research powerful chemical compounds and innovative next-generation materials. The group, called “Alliance for AI-Accelerated Materials Discovery” (A3MD), consists of LG Group, the University of Toronto, McMaster University from Canada and the French energy giant Total SA. According to LG Science Park, the Group’s research facility, the alliance consists of the best scientists from academia and industry and is the first group in the world to conduct research on new materials using artificial intelligence.

 

 

As a founding member, LG Group plans to establish a global research network with experts in AI and materials research. Members of the group include Professors Ted Sargent and Alan-Aspuru-Guzik of the University of Toronto and Professor Drew Higgins of McMaster University. All three are high-ranking scientists in the fields of AI, computer-aided materials research and automated, robot-controlled laboratory experiments. The energy company Total, which already uses AI-supported software for data analysis, is participating as an industrial partner of the alliance.

The research alliance’s goals include the development of environmentally friendly catalysts in the chemical industry and novel optical materials. The composition and production of these materials is to be accelerated by artificial intelligence and automated tests. For example, ethylene and other petrochemical base compounds could be extracted from atmospheric carbon dioxide. For this purpose, the group is researching catalysts that make such a chemical reaction possible.

South Korea is considered one of the most important and innovative industrial nations in the world. To gain market access to this highly technological country, many products imported into South Korea must be tested and certified. The KC-Mark or KC-certificate corresponds approximately to the European CE-mark and applies to 730 different products. MPR International GmbH – Korea Certification is represented by its own subsidiaries at five locations and thus completely covers the demand for certification services for the South Korean market. Our experts are available to you at any time and without obligation to answer your questions regarding a Korea certification.

If you need assistance or have any questions, feel free to contact us any time.

Tel.: +49-69-2713769259
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