Machinery manufacturer SFA plans to expand business beyond screens

8. September 2022 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“.