LG ELECTRONICS STRENGTHENS GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN FOR ADVANCED ANTIMICROBIAL MATERIALS

New Production Line in Vietnam to Meet Growing B2B Demand for Advanced Materials, Including PuroTec™ and Easy-Clean Enamel

News Summary

• LG Electronics has launched a new production line for glass powder-based materials at its manufacturing facility in Haiphong, Vietnam.
• The line will produce approximately 2,000 tons of materials annually, including LG PuroTec™ and Easy-Clean Enamel. Together with its Changwon plant, it will bring LG's total annual capacity to 6,500 tons.
• The dual-plant system in Changwon and Haiphong will help ensure a stable supply for global clients and enhance delivery responsiveness.
• With the new production line, LG will expand its supply beyond North America, Europe and China to include key markets such as India and Southeast Asia.

SEOUL, South Korea, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics (LG) is strengthening its global supply chain for advanced glass powder-based materials with the launch of a new production line at its manufacturing facility in Haiphong, Vietnam. The new line will produce key materials including LG PuroTec™ and Easy-Clean Enamel while serving as a key production hub for LG's growing advanced materials business.

The Haiphong plant adds 2,000 tons of annual glass powder production capacity to LG's manufacturing network. Spanning 3,200 square meters, it is the company's second production base and complements its existing 4,500-ton-capacity plant at LG Smart Park in Changwon, South Korea. Together, the Changwon and Haiphong facilities create a dual-production system that enhances supply stability and delivery responsiveness for customers worldwide.

Advanced Manufacturing for Enhanced Quality 

The new plant incorporates advanced manufacturing technologies to improve production efficiency and quality stability. Approximately 80 percent of the process, including raw material input, melting, cooling, pulverization, packaging and shipping, is automated.

LG has enhanced the precision of its melting process, a critical step in producing high-quality glass powder. Glass powder is produced by melting raw materials at high temperatures, cooling and solidifying them, and then ground them into a fine powder. LG applies advanced process-control technology to maintain a uniform temperature, reducing compositional deviations that can affect material performance. The company also uses technology that lessens erosion of the furnace's refractory lining, helping prevent contamination and improve the purity of the final product.

Expanding Applications for Strategic Growth

The Haiphong plant produces LG PuroTec™, an advanced material with antimicrobial and antifungal properties. When added in small quantities to plastics, paint or rubber, PuroTec™ helps suppress microbial growth that can cause odors and contamination. PuroTec™ can be used in a wide range of products, including home appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators and air conditioners, as well as building materials, sanitary products, food packaging and medical equipment.

The facility also produces Easy-Clean Enamel, a functional coating material used to form a thin glassy ceramic layer on metal surfaces. When used inside cooking appliances such as ovens and microwave ovens, the material enables easy removal of food and oil stains while resisting discoloration and scratching over extended use. These properties make it well suited for kitchen appliances where hygiene and convenience are essential.

Additionally, LG is exploring new applications for its glass powder technology. By adjusting its composition, the company can develop glass powder for various functions. One example is 'Marine Glass,' which is designed to dissolve in water and provides nutrients for seaweed and microalgae to support marine ecosystem restoration and carbon reduction efforts. Another is 'Mineral Wash,' which enables washing without surfactants.

LG began researching glass powder in 1996 and now holds more than 420 related patents. Following the full-scale launch of its advanced materials business in 2023, LG has expanded global regulatory readiness by completing antimicrobial registrations in Europe and the U.S. while verifying product safety through hazardous substance evaluations. Advanced materials sales have more than doubled each year since launch.

"Building on our production capabilities and quality competitiveness, we will continue to expand business opportunities by providing differentiated material solutions that address our customers' evolving needs," said Baek Seung-tae, president of the LG Home Appliance Solution Company.

About LG Electronics Home Appliance Solution Company 

The LG Home Appliance Solution Company (HS) is a global leader in home appliances and AI home solutions. By leveraging industry-leading core technologies, the HS Company is committed to enhancing consumers' quality of life and promoting sustainability. The company develops thoughtfully designed kitchen and living appliance solutions and has recently integrated LG's Robot Business Division to incorporate advanced robot technologies into its home solutions. Together, these products offer enhanced convenience, exceptional performance, efficient operation and sustainable lifestyle solutions. For more news on LG, visit www.lg.com/global/newsroom.

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

LG ELECTRONICS STRENGTHENS GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN FOR ADVANCED ANTIMICROBIAL MATERIALS

LG ELECTRONICS STRENGTHENS GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN FOR ADVANCED ANTIMICROBIAL MATERIALS

LG ELECTRONICS STRENGTHENS GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN FOR ADVANCED ANTIMICROBIAL MATERIALS

• 'KOREA-ITER Fusion Day' held in France on the 22^nd to celebrate completion of sector module assembly
• HD Hyundai Heavy Industries proves mega-scale, high-precision manufacturing capabilities by producing 4 out of 9 vacuum vessel sectors
• "As we take part in this major milestone for the world's largest fusion project, we will continue to strengthen our technological competitiveness in future energy"

SEOUL, South Korea, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced on Wednesday, July 22 (local time), that it attended the 'KOREA-ITER Fusion Day' at the ITER construction site in Cadarache, southern France.

This marks a major step toward the realization of future fusion energy as assembly of the final vacuum vessel sector module for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)— an international nuclear fusion research project, in which HD Hyundai Heavy Industries participated—has been successfully completed.

Around 150 participants—including representatives from South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT, domestic companies, research institutes, and the ITER Organization—attended the event to share the progress of ITER construction, highlight Korea's major procurement achievements, and discuss strategies for international cooperation in the field of nuclear fusion.

The event was organized to celebrate the assembly of the final ITER vacuum vessel sector—manufactured by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries—into a complete sector module combined with thermal shields and superconducting magnets. This sector module has now been moved to the Tokamak pit, where it will join eight other sector modules to form a donut-shaped vacuum vessel weighing approximately 5,000 tons.

ITER is a major international initiative to construct the world's largest fusion experiment reactor in Cadarache, France, jointly pursued by seven participating members: South Korea, the European Union (EU), the United States, Japan, China, Russia, and India.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries manufactured four out of the total nine vacuum vessel sectors that comprise ITER. After winning the contract for two sectors allocated to South Korea in 2010, the company secured an additional order in 2016 for two sectors originally assigned to the EU, successfully delivering all four sectors by 2024.

The vacuum vessel is a core component of ITER that encapsulates plasma exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius while maintaining an ultra-high vacuum environment. Although each vacuum vessel sector is an ultra-large structure measuring 11.3 meters in height, 6.6 meters in width, and weighing approximately 400 tons, it demands an extraordinarily high level of manufacturing precision to ensure seamless assembly with the other sectors. Furthermore, the manufacturing process must satisfy stringent quality and safety standards, including French regulations on nuclear pressure equipment, international nuclear engineering standards, and the rigorous requirements of the ITER Organization.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries successfully produced the vacuum vessel sectors by leveraging its accumulated expertise in shipbuilding and offshore plant construction, along with its capabilities in mega-structure manufacturing and quality management. In recognition of its contributions, the company was awarded a plaque of appreciation during the event.

Speaking at the event as a representative of participating companies, Won Kwang-shik, Senior Executive Vice President of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, stated, "The successful fabrication and installation of the ITER vacuum vessel sectors represent a major milestone that demonstrates both the technological competitiveness of Korean industry and the fruitful results of international cooperation. Building on our accumulated technological experience, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will continue to contribute to realizing sustainable energy for future generations."

Meanwhile, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has also played an active role in establishing South Korea's domestic fusion research infrastructure. The company participated in the main structure design of the KSTAR (Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research) project, completed in 2007, and manufactured its core components, including the large ultra-high vacuum vessel and cryostat.

• Thermal Shield & Superconducting Magnet:
  -The thermal shield prevents heat from the vacuum vessel from transferring to the superconducting magnets operating at cryogenic temperatures.
  -The superconducting magnet creates a powerful magnetic field to confine the ultra-high temperature plasma.
• Tokamak: A donut-shaped structure that uses a magnetic field to confine plasma required for nuclear fusion reactions.
• Tokamak Pit: The central space inside the Tokamak building where major fusion components—including the vacuum vessel and superconducting magnets—are ultimately assembled and installed.

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Reaches Major Milestone in ITER Nuclear Fusion Project