LG Electronics Launches Functional Materials Production Line in Vietnam... Annual Capacity of 2,000 Tons

'LG PuroTec' and 'Easy-Clean' Enamel

Total Production Capacity Reaches 6,500 Tons Including Changwon Plant

LG Electronics is significantly strengthening its global production infrastructure for functional materials, a core business segment being fostered for its business-to-business (B2B) operations.

Inside LG Electronics' Hai Phong manufacturing subsidiary in Vietnam, the production lines for 'LG PuroTec™' and 'Easy-Clean' enameled products. LG Electronics

The company announced on July 23 that it has commenced full-scale operation of production lines for 'LG PuroTec'—a functional material based on glass powder—and 'Easy-Clean' enamel at its Hai Phong manufacturing subsidiary in Vietnam, which occupies a dedicated space of 3,200 square meters (approximately 970 pyeong).

LG PuroTec is an antibacterial and antifungal functional material that inhibits microorganism-induced contamination when added in small quantities to materials such as plastic, paint, and rubber. It can be used not only in home appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners, but also in diverse fields including construction materials, sanitary products, food packaging, and medical devices. Easy-Clean enamel is an eco-friendly glass-ceramic coating material that is highly resistant to heat and scratches, and serves as a core material for kitchen appliances.

The annual production capacity of the Hai Phong production line is approximately 2,000 tons. Combined with the annual production capacity of 4,500 tons at the 'LG Smart Park' in Changwon, Gyeongnam, LG Electronics now has a total annual functional material production capacity of 6,500 tons. The Hai Phong production line will serve as a key manufacturing base to meet demand from North America, Europe, China, as well as Global South markets including India and Southeast Asia. Based on its production systems in Changwon and Hai Phong, the company aims to stably supply products according to the needs and production plans of global clients, enhance responsiveness to delivery deadlines, and expand opportunities in its B2B business.

To ensure stable supply capability and consistent quality, the Hai Phong production line has automated approximately 80% of its entire process, spanning from raw material input to melting, cooling, grinding, packaging, and shipment. In particular, for the critical melting process in functional material production, precise temperature control technology has been employed to maintain uniform temperature inside the furnace, thus overcoming product quality deviations. If temperature discrepancies occur inside the furnace during the high-temperature melting and subsequent cooling and grinding of raw materials, product quality can deteriorate. Additionally, the company has adopted technology that minimizes wear and corrosion of refractory materials—which act as protective barriers in the furnace—to prevent foreign substances from entering the molten glass.

Last year, LG Electronics completed regulatory registrations for antibacterial agents required for entry into the U.S. and European markets, and also demonstrated product safety through toxicity assessments. Since launching glass powder research in 1996, the company has secured over 420 patents related to functional materials.

The global antimicrobial market in which LG PuroTec operates is rapidly expanding. According to market research firm Data Bridge Market Research, the global antimicrobial market size is projected to grow from approximately $3.66 billion in 2024 to about $7.29 billion in 2032. Since the functional materials business was formalized in 2023, LG Electronics has reported more than twofold annual growth in sales for this segment.

Based on its accumulated technological expertise, LG Electronics is developing customized solutions with tailored compositions and properties to meet customer requirements, while continuing to expand the range of applications. Notable examples include 'LG Marine Balance', which supplies essential minerals for the growth of seaweed and halophytes to help restore marine ecosystems, and 'LG Mineral Wash', which enables washing without the need for surfactants.

Kim Youngseok, head of the Functional Materials Business Division at LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution (HS), stated, "We will continuously expand business opportunities by providing differentiated material solutions tailored to customer needs based on our production infrastructure and competitive quality."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.