SG Applies "EcoSteel Ascon" at SK hynix Yongin Semiconductor Cluster

Asphalt concrete specialist SG is making a foray into the semiconductor infrastructure market by applying its eco-friendly, high-durability asphalt concrete to the SK hynix Advanced System Semiconductor Cluster construction site in Yongin.

On August 28, SG announced that it has completed a mock-up installation of its eco-friendly asphalt pavement material, "EcoSteel Ascon," which utilizes steel slag, at the SK hynix Advanced System Semiconductor Cluster construction site in Yongin. The company plans to gradually replace the conventional asphalt concrete currently being supplied to the site with EcoSteel Ascon and continue to promote additional deliveries in the future.

The Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor Cluster is a large-scale semiconductor production base, into which an investment of approximately KRW 122 trillion is being made. In addition to four semiconductor fabrication facilities by SK hynix, the site will also include a complex for materials, parts, and equipment partners, as well as various infrastructure facilities.

Since semiconductor manufacturing facilities handle ultra-fine processes at the nanometer level, managing external contaminants is critically important. Durability of roadways and control of fugitive dust are also key factors, especially as heavy construction vehicles and equipment continuously travel throughout such large-scale cluster construction sites.

EcoSteel Ascon, developed by SG, is an eco-friendly, high-durability asphalt pavement material that substitutes industrial by-product steel slag generated during steelmaking for natural aggregate. Steel slag, a recycled material, offers higher strength and abrasion resistance than standard aggregate; by incorporating it into asphalt concrete, the durability of road surfaces can be significantly improved.

According to SG, previous in-field applications and performance verification have confirmed that EcoSteel Ascon reduces road fine dust emissions by 85.7% compared to conventional asphalt concrete. Its durability is approximately 4.5 times greater, and its service life is about 2.3 times longer. As a result, it can help reduce road damage such as potholes, rutting, and cracking, and lower long-term maintenance costs.

This mock-up installation is expected to serve as a catalyst for expanding the use of EcoSteel Ascon from public roadways to private industrial infrastructure. SG plans to broaden its supply channel to focus on large-scale advanced industrial facilities such as semiconductor fabs, artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, and industrial complexes.

In particular, advanced industrial facilities such as semiconductor plants and data centers require robust roadway durability and effective dust management due to high volumes of logistics and vehicle movements. SG intends to leverage the dust reduction and durability advantages of EcoSteel Ascon to aggressively target the related infrastructure market.

An SG representative stated, "This mock-up installation will serve as an opportunity to extend the use of EcoSteel Ascon to advanced industrial infrastructure," adding, "We plan to further expand supply to a variety of industrial infrastructure sites based on the product’s fine dust reduction efficacy and high durability."

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