SK nexilis showcases super-gap copper foil technology at InterBattery 2023.
● SK nexilis will run a booth at the COEX Exhibition Center at Gangnam for 3 days from March 15 to 17 that will be 2.5 times bigger the size than last year’s show and will have a real-size copper foil on display.● Introducing the overwhelming global top technology of high-elongation and high-strength copper foil, global expansion plan, and community activities for mutual growth.SK nexilis, a copper foil business for EV batteries in which SKC (CEO & President Woncheol Park) has invested, will display a full-size copper foil that embodies the world’s best technology at InterBattery 2023, the largest industrial battery exhibition in South Korea that will be held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul for 3 days from March 15.SK nexilis has designed a 135 square meters booth under the theme of A World-changing Technology and Indispensable Copper Foil for EV Batteries. The booth reflects the copper foil’s color and dynamics. The first zone titled Welcome to SK nexilis Zone will have on display a real, factory-produced mother roll of copper foil. This full-size roll is composed of a copper foil with a thickness of 5 micrometers (㎛), 1/25 the thickness of a human hair, and a width of 1,358mm that is wound into a 48-kilometer roll and weighs up to 3.6 tons. SK nexilis is the one and only booth operator that will showcase to the public a life-size copper foil. SK nexilis’ technology of manufacturing a thin copper foil wider and longer strikingly raises the productivity of battery manufacturers. As the copper roll gets longer, it cost and time gets significantly lower for clients to replace a roll, thereby greatly contributing to maintaining quality. In addition, a more use of extra-wide copper foil will lead to producing wider areas of anodes in the same amount of time. In the New Mobility Frontier Zone, the copper foil production process is modeled for display. The entire process from melting, coating, and slitting the raw material to inspection before shipping is presented in an easy-to-understand manner that will allow both industry insiders and general public to easily understand how the product is manufactured. The Global No. 1 Innovator Zone will mainly feature videos to introduce SK nexilis’ products. Visitors will be offered details of each product like high-strength products which have seen a recent increase in demand due to the acceleration of the battery manufacturing process and high-elongation products that are essential for next-generation cylindrical batteries. Being the first in the world to develop a high-elongation product, SK nexilis is being well-received as the only company with a variety of copper foil product groups that cater to different battery manufacturers’ processes.SK nexilis has leveraged its technological competitive edge and signed a big supply contract last month with Northvolt, the largest battery manufacturer in Europe, to cover almost 80% of the demand for five years from 2024. Additional negotiations are in progress with multiple global companies. At the Global Network Zone of SK nexilis’ booth, visitors will see the company’s ongoing facility expansion in Malaysia and Poland in addition to its plans to build a global production system with an annual production capacity of 250,000 tons by 2026 thus broadening its customer base.An SK nexilis executive said, “At InterBattery, we will communicate our technology and plans to build a global production system, making it easy for our major clients and industry insiders as well as the general public to understand,” and added, “People will see for themselves the overwhelming process technology embodied throughout the production process and the manufacturing technology that supports a variety of our product lineups.” [End of document][Image of SK nexilis booth at InterBattery 2023]
2023-03-14
Absolics Inc. partners with a local U.S. educational institution to develop human resources for semiconductors.
● Absolics Inc. signed an industry-academia collaboration agreement with Georgia Piedmont Technical College to set up an education/training program and jointly structure the curriculum.● The collaboration is aimed to develop technical talent that the glass substrate business could benefit from and contribute to reinforce the competitiveness of the local semiconductor industry ecosystem.Absolics Inc., a semiconductor glass substrate business in which SKC (CEO & President Woncheol Park) has invested, partnered with a local U.S. educational institution to develop human resources for the semiconductor industry.Absolics Inc. signed an industry-academia collaboration MOU with Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) on March 9 (local time) to jointly set up an education/training program for human resources development of the semiconductor industry. The signing ceremony, held at GPTC’s Newton Campus in Covington, Newton County, Georgia, was attended by key officials from both sides including Absolics Inc. CTO Seongjin Kim and GPTC President Tavarez Holston.This MOU will serve as a basis for Absolics Inc. and GPTC to structure an education/training curriculum of industry-academia collaboration customized for jobs such as semiconductor quality management and defect analysis. The goal sought through this arrangement is to develop the human resources that the semiconductor glass substrate business need and contribute to reinforcing the competitiveness of the overall local semiconductor industry ecosystem in the long term.Absolics Inc. is the first company in the world to promote the semiconductor glass substrate business that is building a manufacturing facility on an SKC inc. site in Georgia since last November. A first-phase investment of USD 240 million was made to complete the manufacturing facility next year with an annual production capacity of 12,000 square meters. A second-phase investment of USD 360 million will also follow to expand the annual production capacity to 72,000 square meters.The semiconductor glass substrate business also started through local industry-academia collaboration. Commercialization of the business was built on the combination of GPTC’s basic glass substrate technology and SKC’s processing technology and manufacturing know-how. This additional industry-academia collaboration with GPTC laid the groundwork for Absolics Inc. to participate in talent development and achieve recruitment stability.Founded in 1961, GPTC is one of the largest and most historic community colleges in Georgia specializing in tech education. Over 1,000 students in fields such as industrial technology and computer science graduate from the college each year. GPTC President Tavarez Holston expressed his anticipation saying, “We look forward to a successful, long-term industry-academia collaboration with global companies SKC and Absolics Inc. that will contribute to local community development.”An Absolics Inc. executive said, “This industry-academia collaboration with GPTC, which is the best industrial technology education institution in the region, will contribute to develop talent needed for the future semiconductor industry and build a local semiconductor ecosystem,” and added, “We will continue to expand industry-academia collaborations to ensure the future availability of talented manpower.” [End of document][Absolics Inc. CTO Seongjin Kim (right) and GPTC (Georgia Piedmont Technical College) President Tavarez Holston holding the industry-academia collaboration MOU for semiconductor human resources development after signing it at GPTC’s Newton Campus on March 9.].jpg
2023-03-10
SKC, Certified with International Standard for Anti-Corruption Management System
● Certified with ISO 37001, an anti-corruption corporate management standard published by the International Standard Organization (ISO)··· rolling out an industry-leading ethical management system● Continuing with their endeavors to foster transparency in corporate culture, establishing an anti-corruption code of conduct and deploying an ethical management 3C systemSKC (CEO & President Woncheol Park) announced on March 2 that the company was certified by the Korea Management Registrar (KMR) with ISO 37001, a global standard governing anti-corruption corporate management system.The certificate award ceremony held at SKC head office in Jongro-gu, Seoul was attended by distinguished guests including Head Kapryong Choi of ESG Promotion Division at SKC and President Eunju Hwang of KMR to name a few. ISO 37001 is the international standard published by the International Standard Organization (ISO) in 2016 that provides for anti-corruption management processes and requirements.Upon winning the ISO 37001 certification after a rigorous assessment, SKC is officially recognized for rolling out an anti-corruption management system that satisfies the requirements of applicable global standards. To win the certification, SKC developed risk controls and prevention systems after identifying and assessing enterprise-wide corruption risks in the second half of last year, laying the groundwork for operating the anti-corruption corporate management system.Prior to the ISO 37001 certification, SKC continuously upgraded its ethical management infrastructure. The company kept on with its efforts to foster a fair and transparent corporate culture, establishing an anti-corruption code of conduct and building the so-called ethical management 3C system founded on three pillars: Code; Compliance; and Consensus. Anti-corruption training programs covering all SKC people including outside directors were also in place.With demand for ethical corporate practices mounting both at home and abroad, SKC vows to press ahead with its anti-corruption endeavors. In particular, the company plans to extend the coverage of anti-corruption training programs to local workers in the overseas construction sites of its investors and business partners in Korea and elsewhere in a bid to bolster up ethical management capabilities, aspiring to reduce anti-corruption incidents to zero by 2025.“The ISO 37001 certification is tantamount to the official recognition of SKC’s success in rolling out an enterprise-wide anti-corruption management system satisfying global standards,” said an official at SKC. “We will remain determined to win greater trust from stakeholders by fostering fairness and transparency in corporate management.” [End][SKC won the ISO 37001 certification, a global standard certification for anti-corruption corporate management system. SKC’s Kapryong Choi, head of the ESG Promotion Division (left), is receiving the certificate from KMR President Eunju Hwang]
2023-03-02
SKC names a businesswoman & a startup founder candidates for the office of director
● Ms. Eunmi Chae, former country managing director of FedEx Korea, and Mr. Jeongin Kim, CEO of Hyper Lounge, nominated for the office of director in a board meeting on the 23rd● Female representation among outside directors raised to 50% and candidates identified using BSM ··· drastically enhancing diversity and professionalism in the board membershipSKC (CEO & President Woncheol Park) has named a female business executive and a startup founder for the office of outside director with a view to further enhancing diversity and professionalism in its board.SKC nominated former country managing director Eunmi Chae of FedEx Korea and CEO Jeongin Kim of Hyper Lounge in a board meeting held on the 23rd. In addition, Joonsik Chae, the Head of the Finance Division at SK Inc. was also tapped as a non-executive director.Eunmi Chae is an iconic self-made businesswoman who joined FedEx, world’s leading shipping company, as a rank-and-file employee and earned her promotion to the first-ever Korean managing directorship in FedEx Korea. Serving as country managing director, she was touted for her commitment to communicating with employees, and memorizing the names of hundreds of employees. She is also known to be well-versed in labor relations and experienced in global business management, working as the HR manager of FedEx North Pacific Hub and Vice Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea. Upon her appointment, the share of female outside directors in SKC will jump to 50%.Jeongin Kim is a startup founder, a rare breed that can be found in the boards of large Korean companies. After serving as a partner in McKinsey Korea, director in Hyundai Card, and head of global operation at Affinity Equity Partners, he founded Hyper Lounge in 2020, a startup providing a management analytics platform specifically designed for small and medium-sized enterprises. Specialized in business strategy, finance, merger & acquisition (M&A) across domestic and multinational companies, Jeongin Kim, a startup CEO, is recognized as one of the best candidates for the office of director in SKC trying to accelerate business model innovation.Joonsik Chae, a non-executive director candidate, joined SK Group in 2005 and was appointed to be the Head of the Finance Division of SK Inc. this year after serving as manager of Finance Management Office 1 at SK Inc. He is considered to be an expert on finance and strategy.Candidates named by SKC share a common trait: they are all business leaders. As businessmen and women with significant experience across a variety of industrial domains account for a great share of the board membership, they are expected to contribute to enhance the independence of the board decision-making process, providing better insights to management leadership and overseeing their conduct. SKC used the Board Skills Matrix (BSM) to identify new candidates and objectively assess their respective expertise. Electing an outside director as the chair of the board for the first time last year to bolster up the independence of the board, SKC organized a council of outside directors and adopted BSM in a bid to persistently enhance the independence and expertise of the board. An official at SKC said, “We will render our corporate governance healthier by continuing to enhance the diversity and professionalism of the board.” Following their nomination, the candidates will be appointed in an ordinary shareholders’ meeting slated for March. [End][Eunmi Chae, SKC outside director candidate][Jeongin Kim, SKC outside director candidate][Joonsik Chae, SKC non-executive director candidate]
2023-02-23
SK nexilis signed a mid- to long-term copper foil supply contract with Northvolt, Sweden.
● SK nexilis will supply Northvolt with copper foil produced in Poland for five years from 2024 worth up to KRW 1.4 trillion, enough for 1.7 million electric vehicles. ● SK nexilis emerges as the one and only top-tier manufacturer capable of supplying a large number of high-strength wide copper foil to the European market.SK nexilis, an invested subsidiary of SKC (CEO & President Woncheol Park) in the copper foil business for rechargeable batteries signed a large-scale, mid- to long-term supply contract with the Swedish company Northvolt, the largest rechargeable battery manufacturer in Europe.On February 17 (local time), SK nexilis concluded a contract with Northvolt at Northvolt headquarters in Stockholm to supply cooper foil for rechargeable batteries produced at its plant in Stalowa Wola, Poland for five years from 2024. The contract’s volume is about 80% of copper foil needs required by Northvolt during the contract period, which amounts to KRW 1.4 trillion and can be used to for 1.7 million electric vehicles. From 2024, SK nexilis will run the plant in Poland with an annual production capacity of 50,000 tons.The signing ceremony on this day was attended by key officials from both companies including SK nexilis General Manager of Marketing Jeongkyu Kim and Northvolt’s Co-founder and COO Paolo Cerruti. SK nexilis and Northvolt agreed to take this agreement as an opportunity to strengthen their mid- to long-term cooperation.Northvolt is the most powerful local manufacturer in Europe in the global battery market dominated by South Korean, Chinese, and Japanese companies. It has received investments of more than KRW 1 trillion from European automakers including Volkswagen and Volvo and is working to construct a large-scale local production facility with a total capacity of 150 gigawatt-hours (GWh). With this contract with SK nexilis, Northvolt will have a stable and eco-friendly supply of copper foil, a key material for secondary batteries, and begin to mass-produce batteries. According to the market research agency SNE Research, the global copper foil market for rechargeable batteries is expected to grow to 75,000 tons by 2025 from 27,000 tons in 2021 with a high annual average growth rate of more than 40%. In particular, the competition for first-mover advantage is fierce because the market is expected to face a short supply of wide copper foil (with more than 1m-width) from next year which can drastically increase the productivity of rechargeable batteries. This is because new facilities of top-tier battery manufacturers have built-in wide copper foil processes whereas wide copper foil production of most manufacturers only accounts for 30-50%.Wide copper foil accounts for more than 90% of SK nexilis production based on its overwhelming technology. In addition to the overwhelming production of wide copper foil, the products are well-received for their high strength and excellent price. This technology and competitive price are behind Northvolt’s selection of SK nexilis as its mid- to long-term copper foil supplier. Apart from the plant in Poland, SK nexilis plans to complete the construction of its Malaysian plant and start its investment in North America this year to build a system that can immediately respond to the demands of each region’s battery manufacturers.An SK nexilis executive said, “With this mid- to long-term deal between SK nexilis, which has the world’s best copper foil manufacturing technology, and Northvolt, the largest European battery manufacturer, the competitiveness of both companies in the global electric vehicle market will further be enhanced,” and added, “SK nexilis is in negotiations with multiple global top-tier battery clients for additional mid- to long-term contracts and the results will be announced soon.” [End of document][SK nexilis signed a contract with Northvolt to supply cooper foil for rechargeable batteries in mid- to long-term. SK nexilis General Manager of Marketing Jeongkyu Kim (right) and Northvolt’s COO Paolo Cerruti are signing the contract at Northvolt headquarters in Stockholm.]
2023-02-19
SKC will prioritize ESG in all investment decision-making processes
● The ESG Checklist will be upgraded by investment type and phase with the items expanded by 6 times and the Internal Carbon Price system will be introduced.● The Investment Management Regulations will reflect all the changes to enhance the corporate identity as a global ESG materials solution company and implementation capabilities for mid- to long-term ESG objectives.SKC (CEO & President Woncheol Park) will drastically expand the number of ESG indicators that are reflected in its investment decision-making processes. Through this, SKC will carefully examine ESG elements in making all investment decisions, further strengthen its identity as a global ESG materials solution company, and not fail to achieve mid- to long-term ESG objectives including 2040 Greenhouse Gas Net Zero and 2030 Plastic Net Zero.On February 14, SKC reported the ESG-based Investment Process Improvement Plan to the ESG Committee, a subcommittee of the Board of Directors. While SKC is already reflecting ESG indicators composed of management items of external rating agencies in its investment decision-making processes, it has developed its version of advanced indicators to make decisions more aligned with key sustainable management goals. The Internal Carbon Price is also newly introduced to reflect carbon emissions to investment decisions.First, the ESG checklist which is reflected when making investment decisions is subdivided into investment type and stage. Through this, when making investment decisions in the future, the appropriate ESG checklist for different investment phases such as investment review and actual execution will be reviewed depending on the type of investment agenda be it a new M&A or large/small incremental investment. The checklist items are also increased by more than 6 times compared to the previous 14, up to 92 altogether including the existing E (Environment), S (Society), and G (Governance) to ensure a seamless review system for ESG opportunities and risks.Also, the Internal Caron Price system will be introduced that forecasts carbon generated from business operations of investment targets and reflect it as ‘cost.’ If the Internal Carbon Price is applied, businesses that can reduce carbon emissions will have greater economic efficiency and those emitting a lot of carbon will have less economic efficiency. This will serve as an objective basis to determine investment priorities from an eco-friendly perspective and also prepare and apply carbon emissions reduction plans. SKC will review the system in the first half of this year and fully introduce the Internal Carbon Price System in the second half. SKC will revise its investment management regulations to reflect all these within the first half of this year. In addition, it plans to distribute relevant manuals and hold briefing sessions to enhance the implementation capabilities of all members including invested companies, and apply the revised regulations in all investment decisions from the second half.An SKC executive said, “We have expanded our ESG indicators that can be reflected in all business units’ investment decisions to increase the implementation capabilities in achieving mid- to long-term ESG objectives and reinforce the new identity as a global ESG materials solution company,” and added, “SKC will continue to enhance the overall management system including investment for reinforced ESG management. [End of document]
2023-02-15
SKC records KRW 3.14 trillion in sales in 2022, marking a year-on-year increase of 39%.
●Despite deteriorating internal and external business conditions, both annual sales and operating income increased in rechargeable battery and semiconductor materials businesses.●SKC’s Global Story takes off as its copper foil plant in Malaysia and glass substrate plant in the U.S. get completed this year.●ESG management is reinforced through the first Carbon Footprint certification in the copper foil industry and winning the Coexistence Ball of the Month awarded by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.SKC (CEO & President: Woncheol Park) recorded KRW 3.14 trillion in sales in 2022, marking a year-on-year increase of 38.6%, and continued its growth. Despite deteriorating internal and external business conditions, both the annual sales and operating income increased for future growth businesses such as rechargeable battery materials and semiconductor materials compared to 2021. A total operating income of KRW 220.3 billion was reported for 2022.On February 6, SKC announced the above 2022 earnings report at the Jongno-gu SKC head office in the presence of key executives including CEO Jaehong Lee of SK nexilis, CEO Euijoon Lim of SK picglobal, CEO of SK pucore and SKC’s CFO Duhwan Choi, CEO Jongwoo Kim of SK enpulse, CEO Jun-rok Oh of Absolics, and the Head of Business Development Division Junghwan Shin. The earnings report was also live-streamed on YouTube.The rechargeable battery materials business, led by SK nexilis which is a copper foil business subsidiary invested by SKC recorded KRW 810.1 billion in sales and KRW 98.6 billion in operating income last year. Both the sales and operating income increased year-on-year thanks to the operation of Jeongeup Plant 6 equipped with the latest smart factory facilities and the business is continuing to grow. SK nexilis will complete the construction of its Malaysian plant this year and expand mid- to long-term supply contracts with global battery manufacturers to further increase its presence and profitability.The chemical business led by SK picglobal and SK pucore recorded KRW 1.7 trillion in sales and KRW 140.9 billion in operating income in 2022. Despite the overall downturn in the chemical industry, a year-on-year increase of 54.7% in sales drove business growth. Growth is also expected to continue this year through expanded long-term supplies of high-value-added products focused on North America and Europe. Future growth engines for the chemical business are also lined up with the world’s first commercialization of a facility exclusively for the production of DPG, high-value-added and eco-friendly material, in November last year and the industry’s first official semi-noncombustible material suitability test results.The semiconductor materials business led by SK enpulse recorded KRW 598.2 billion in sales and KRW 28.8 billion last year. Both sales and profits grew together with the increased sales of high-profit products such as CMP pads despite the stagnant global semiconductor market. The proportion of high-value-added growth business products including CMP pads out of total semiconductor materials business sales increased significantly from 21% in 2021 to 36% last year. This year, SKC plans to further expand the proportion of high-value-added growth business products such as blank masks and work to carry out the construction of its semiconductor glass substrate production plant according to the plan.SKC is further enhancing ESG management as well. Last year, SKC announced a roadmap for 2040 Greenhouse Gas Net Zero, and SK nexilis was recognized for its efforts to reduce carbon emissions throughout the entire process of copper foil manufacturing as it became the first in the copper foil industry to acquire the Carbon Footprint certification. SK picglobal also achieved ZWTL (Zero Waste to Landfill) Gold level validated by UL, a global certification company. In addition, SKC won the Coexistence Ball of the Month awarded by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups in recognition of its performance of cooperation with startups for coexistence through an open platform for new materials.SKC has consistently carried out activities to reinforce the independence and expertise of the board. In this regard, an outside director was appointed as the chairman of the board for the first time last year as a means to strengthen its independence. It also introduced BSM (Board Skill Matrix) to enhance the board’s capabilities. In November last year, a platform called Board Information System was built to further reinforce board-centered business management. Through this, management data control and discussions between directors and executives on pending issues are made available.An SKC executive said, “After concluding the sale of the film business last year, SKC’s Global Story will take off as its copper foil pant in Malaysia and glass substrate plant in the U.S. get completed this year,” and added, “Despite difficulties in internal and external business conditions, we will expand investment in future growth engines and continue the innovations towards a global ESG materials solution enterprise.” [End of document]
2023-02-06
SKC solmics renamed SK enpulse, bracing for a new leap forward
Officially adopted this year, the new
corporate name stands for dynamic growth and commitment to usher in a new trend
in the chip material industryIn high gear on the fast track to localize high-value
materials such as CMP pad, and blank mask···
to evolve into a global semiconductor ESG solution provider
SKC solmics, an investee
specialized on semiconductor materials of SKC (President: Woncheol Park),
is renamed SK enpulse, bracing for a new leap to join the league of global
semiconductor ESG solution providers.
Officially adopted
this year, SK solmics’ new corporate name, SK enpulse, is a compound word
combining the English prefix ‘en’ as in ‘enable’ with ‘pulse’ indicating trend
and wave. It epitomizes the company’s commitment to fostering dynamic growth
and creating a new trend in the chip material industry.
SK enpulse is the
key semiconductor-making arm of SKC. The company has spearheaded the
localization of fine ceramic for chip applications with over a 30-year-long
R&D history. Affiliated a subsidiary of SKC in 2008, the company has been
rapidly innovating its business model, expanding its reach to cover high-value
chip materials including CMP pad and blank mask.
Under its new
name, SK enpulse vows to put new business growth into high gear. CMP pads are used
to flatten the surface of semiconductor wafers to increase the degree of
integration in chips. SK enpulse has been growing fast, carving out niches as
primary suppliers of SK hynix and DB HiTek in the CMP pad market, 80% of which
was dominated by global chemical giant Dupont.
Blank masks serve as
the canvas of the exposure step in chipmaking process where ultra-fine circuits
are drawn at nanometer spacing. SK enpulse succeeded late last year in localizing
high-end blank masks 90% of which was dominated by Japanese competitors. That has
drawn significant attention from chipmakers.
In addition to
adopting the new name, SK enpluse plans to further accelerate its growth by
consummating the merger with SK telesys this February. The company will also
seek to transform its identity from being a pioneer in the localization of
semiconductor materials/components to a global semiconductor ESG solution
provider committed to ESG management and global expansion.
“We have decided
to adopt a new name aligned with SKC’s vision for the semiconductor material
business and new corporate identity,” said a source in SK enpulse. “We will be
reborn as a provider of high-value semiconductor materials, increasing our market
cap. to 1.5 trillion won by 2025.” [End]
[SK enpluse CI]
2023-01-15
SKC will showcase future innovations at CES in the fields of secondary battery, semiconductor and eco-friendly material
SKC will present
innovative products as a global ESG material solution company in the CES exhibition
hall titled Action which will be jointly run by eight SK Group affiliates.Future
growth engines such as semiconductors, glass substrates and silicon anode materials
will be displayed to the public for the first time.An
accelerated 2040 Net Zero target achievement is expected through the first-ever
carbon footprint certification in the copper foil industry for secondary batteries.
SKC
(President: Woncheol Park)
will display key future products as a
global ESG material solution company to show where the company’s innovation is
directed at CES (International Consumer Electronics Show) 2023, the world’s
largest industrial exhibition which will be held in Las Vegas, U.S. in January 5-8
(local time). Action hall visitors can expect to have an early glimpse of the innovations
that will later take place in the secondary battery, semiconductor and eco-friendly
material industries.
At
the SK Group’s exhibition hall that SKC will share with other SK Group’s seven affiliates
including SK Inc., SKC will showcase products like semiconductor glass substrate
for high-performance computing; copper foil for secondary batteries; silicon
anode materials; waste plastic recycling; and, PBAT and LIMEX, eco-friendly
alternative plastic materials. SK Group’s exhibition hall called Action (Moving
Toward a Carbon-Free Future Together) is located at the center of the Central
Hall, the main building of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).
The
semiconductor glass substrate, being displayed to the public for the first time,
will be located at the Green Digital Solutions zone in the SK Group’s
exhibition hall. The semiconductor glass substrate is a future material which
is considered a game changer in the semiconductor packaging industry with
significantly improved data processing speed and power efficiency. SKC started
construction of a mass production facility just last month through its investee
company Absolics Inc. and is working to commercialize the product for the first
time in the world. Visitors can see for themselves the semiconductor glass
substrate with a thickness of only one-fourth of the current plastic substrates
and a smooth surface that can cope with micro-packaging.
Copper
foil for secondary batteries, which caught the attention of CES 2022 visitors
early this year, will be displayed at the Clean Mobility zone together with
silicon anode material. SK nexilis, a copper foil company in which SKC has
invested, owns super-gap technology to mass-produce the widest (1.4 meter) and
longest (77 kilometers) copper products with the world’s thinnest thickness of 4
micrometers (4μm, one-thirtieth of a hair). In addition, its excellent recipe technology
and smart factory facilitate the production of products with customized
properties in response to various demands including ultra-high-strength copper foils
and high-elongation copper foils.
Recently,
SK nexilis’ copper foil products also received the Product Carbon Footprint certification
from the Carbon Trust, a U.K. eco-friendly certification agency. The company’s efforts
to reduce carbon emissions were recognized for raw and subsidiary materials,
the entire manufacturing process and waste disposal, which further made the
product identity clear as an eco-friendly material together with super-gap technology.
Silicon
anode, with the mass-production facility construction to begin next year, will
also appear in the exhibition. Silicon anode is a material that greatly improves
battery performance by increasing charging speed and driving distance of
secondary batteries. However, the product is in an early phase of market
expansion due to an issue of volume dilatation during charging and discharging.
SKC invested in Nexeon, a British tech company, thereby securing exclusive
business rights to a new technology that combines the advantages of various
engineering methods and developed its competitive edge in the market through
further research and development. SKC plans to supply silicon anode materials,
high-elongation copper foils and high-strength copper foils grouped as a secondary
battery anode solution.
SKC’s
eco-friendly materials, biodegradable PBAT and LIMEX, will be introduced to the
public as food containers, forks and food exchange vouchers that will be used
at the Outdoor Food Truck zone to taste sustainable food in which SK Group has invested.
Through this, visitors can have a hands-on experience of the excellent
usability of SKC’s biodegradable materials. Besides, a video will be played at
the Waste to Resources zone regarding SKC’s waste plastic recycling solution that
turns plastic waste generated from daily activities into resources through
pyrolysis.
SKC’s
SV Director General (Vice
President) Yun-a Na said, “We will make
it widely known at CES 2023 SKC’s new identity as a global ESG material
solution company and that it is committed to achieving the 2040 Net Zero
targets through carbon emissions reduction,” and added, “SKC will continue the
search for and recruitment of new ESG material businesses through ongoing technology
development.”
2022-12-25
SK pucore’s polyurethane insulation material successfully captured both ‘performance and safety'
SK pucore’s urethane insulation material based on ‘high retardant polyol’
became the first of its kind in the industry to pass the official ‘semi-noncombustible
material suitability test.’The insulation material has enhanced fire safety while insulation
performance is maintained, and SK pucore will “consolidate its leadership in
eco-friendly, high value-added polyurethane leadership.”
SK pucore, a polyurethane business in which SKC (President: Woncheol Park) has
invested, became the first of its kind in the industry to receive an official
recognition for the safety of a polyurethane insulation material.
SK pucore announced on
December 19 that it has co-developed a urethane insulation material since
October this year through a consortium with four other companies including SY,
a construction materials company, Geum Sung Insulationtech, Lotte E&C and
Lotte Chemical, and that this material passed the Korea Conformity
Laboratories’ ‘semi-noncombustible material* suitability test’ this month. It
is the first time that polyurethane insulation material, which has long been
considered a combustible that burns easily, passed the semi-noncombustible
material suitability test certified by KOLAS (Korea Laboratory Accreditation
Scheme) of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards.
*Materials with properties
equivalent to noncombustible materials that do not burn.
In the existing construction industry, there was a
dilemma that excellent high-performance insulation materials tended to have
weak flame retardancy, a property that prevents burning of a material, and materials
with high flame retardancy tended to demonstrate degraded insulation performance.
Polyurethane has been classified as a material with excellent insulation properties
but poor flame retardancy. As the bill for the amendment of the Building Act
was passed last year, which strengthens the fire safety of building materials, semi-noncombustible
performance became a must for building materials made of polyurethane,
Styrofoam, etc. in the future.
In order to overcome such drawback of polyurethane, SK
pucore established a ‘flame retardant material mixing system’ that can be
applied to polyol, a raw material of polyurethane, and successfully developed
high flame retardant polyol that maintains excellent insulation performance. In
addition, Lotte Chemical which supplies basic polyol materials contributed to
ensuring semi-noncombustible performance as it developed a raw material with
excellent thermal resistance. Lotte E&C plans to actively apply the product
in real construction sites.
It should be particularly noted that, in this semi-noncombustible
material suitability test, excellent flame retardancy was successfully proven
by use of thin steel sheets for external wall finishing instead of granites,
tiles or bricks that are resistant to fire. In addition, for the foaming used
in the insulation material manufacturing process, an eco-friendly foaming agent
with significantly reduced greenhouse gas emission was used to enhance the
eco-friendliness as well as safety. SK pucore, together with other insulation material
manufacturers, has also started to develop mass-production technology and specialized
facilities for this safe, eco-friendly polyurethane insulation material.
An SK pucore executive said, “We expect that this
insulation material with excellent insulation performance and flame retardancy
will minimize energy consumption, ensure safety against fire and contribute to
relevant policy reinforcement all at the same time,” and added, “SK pucore will
further consolidate its leadership in eco-friendly and high value-added
polyurethane technology through continued research and development activities.”.
[End of document]
2022-12-19