Kumho Petrochemical group is expanding its R&D to respond to global demand and over-supply. Last year, kumho Petrochemical Group attempted a multifaceted approach to overcome the industry’s recession by diversifying its product portfolios, improving profitability through cost reduction and productivity, and increasing quality competitiveness by establishing innovative technology.

This year, as a representative company that pioneers the future of the petrochemical industry, the company plans to solidify the cornerstone for re-leap in the rapidly changing market environment based on strengthening eco-friendly automation solutions, expanding bio and lasting materials, and converting high value-added specialty products.

Researchers from Kumho Petrochemical Central Research Institute are analyzing the product. [사진=금호석유화학]

◆ Break through the Recession with R&D … After Securing New Growth Engines with High Value-added Products

Kumho Petrochemical plans to establish an R&D-centric system with a mid- to long-term strategy.It will create a stable profit structure by expanding high value-added products and to secure new growth engines by commercializing leading products.

It is currently focusing on research on SSBR (Solution Styene Butadiene Rubber), which is mainly used in high-performance tires of electric vehicles. In order to preemptively respond to temporary demands due to electric vehicles, we will solidify market leadership by developing customized products (increasing tire life, improving fuel economy, and reducing energy). It has secured pilot manufacturing technology of new material synthetic rubber that meets both eco-friendly and tire performance by combining core high functionalization technology with sugar recipient-based bio raw materials.We are also studying the Talsolvent (Devo) process to respond to environmental regulations and lead the eco-friendly tire market.In addition to the synthetic rubber production process, it can reduce the amount of energy consumption, but also significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions.It is pursuing the goal of commercialization and actual process applications in the future.

Kumho P & B Chemical is a product portfolio diversification and focuses on securing future food. The company plans to continue to develop epoxy resin technology to prepare an efficient plan for the trend of eco-friendly markets. Recently, research has been strengthened in areas such as dance, acceptable epoxy resin and bio-based low-carbon epoxy resins. Dance agent and water-soluble epoxy resin is a material that can reduce volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions. It is indeed currently in commercial production and continues to study physical properties to expand in the request of ships and flooring materials.In addition, bio-based raw materials will be applied to the existing epoxy resin process to secure technology for the production of low-carbon products, and this year’s related facilities will be made. carbon emissions of the product have been completed and is being prepared to obtain biotechnology. Kumho P & B Chemical is expected to take a strategy to move forward to a future-oriented company by preemptively responding to the rapidly changing market and strengthening product competitiveness.

◆ Kumho Mitsui Chemical, a New Application Technology for Polyurethane

Kumho mitsui Chemical is planning to strengthen its R&D capacity by securing polyurethane’s new application technology. The company will expand its portfolio by developing eco-friendly technology of MDI, which is used for furniture, insulation, automobile interior materials, and memory foam.After completing the development of polyurethane system,including vegetable materials,it is expected to acquire eco-friendly certification. Lung polyurethane regeneration research is also being prepared. after use, the polyurethane, which is inevitable, is cut in a manner such as pyrolysis, and then recovers and mixed with MDI. In addition to reducing costs through recycling, greenhouse gas reduction effects can be expected. In addition, the company plans to establish a foundation for expanding the global market based on differentiated competitiveness by conducting development research on bio products.

Kumho Polychem is looking for ways to develop eco-friendly technology and specialized parts to enter the new market. the company is mobilizing its R&D capabilities to expand high value-added products of special synthetic high value-added products used for auto parts, tire tubes, hoses, and wires. In addition, for sustainable growth, the company is promoting research on material development of new cars such as eco-friendly process improvement and lightweight products and electric vehicle driving noise improvements. The eco-friendly process research is planning to apply on-site with the exhibition evaluation in the second half of this year. In addition, the company will strengthen its product competitiveness by expanding applications such as thermal conductivity and insulation materials, and develop eco-friendly technology by developing solar power parts and eco-grade products. as such,Kumho Polychem is speeding up the establishment of a dictionary plan to cope with the changing industrial environment,such as its unique technology and expanding its global portfolio.