LIVING KITCHEN CO., LTD. is situated in Yesan, Chungcheongnam-do, about a two-hour drive away from Seoul. There might be some wondering why POSCO Newsroom chose LIVING KITCHEN CO., LTD, a kitchen sink bowl producer, for the last story of the INNOVILT Alliance Journal. And the reason is as follows.

In October 2020, POSCO had unveiled its 4th INNOVILT certified product. A total of 30 products acquired the INNOVILT certification, and amongst the many unfamiliar names of construction material products stood a rather familiar product — a kitchen sink bowl. A sink bowl? It was new to see an everyday item receive the INNOVILT certification. This made us curious about the production process of the INNOVILT sink bowl as well as the company that, for the first time in consumer products, succeeded in attaining the INNOVILT certification. Join POSCO Newsroom as it unveils the details.

l What Makes the INNOVILT Sink Bowl of LIVING KITCHEN CO., LTD. So Special?

▲ Sung-Wook Hong, Representative Director of LIVING KITCHEN CO., LTD., is explaining about the Quadra and Jumbo sink bowls

Established in 1999, LIVING KITCHEN mainly produces various stainless steel kitchen furniture and specializes in kitchen sink bowls. Everyone knows that stainless steel is an indispensable material when it comes to sink bowls. So, what makes the sink bowls of LIVING KITCHEN more special? Sung-Wook Hong, Representative Director of LIVING KITCHEN CO., LTD., said, “We make sink bowls with 100% POSCO stainless steel STS304.” According to Hong, sink bowls in Korea do not go under additional processing on the surface from the raw material stage to the end product. And so, this makes the surface condition of the raw material important. LIVING KITCHEN had previously received materials from other companies as well as POSCO. However, since three years ago, it has been using only POSCO stainless steel.

Since most companies appearing in the INNOVILT Alliance Journal adopted 100% POSCO materials, we wanted to know if any other reasons set aside the INNOVILT sink bowls from other products. Executive Director Sung-Wook Hong replied, “The steel grade that we use is not the conventional STS304. It is a new type of STS304 for sink bowl application that we researched and developed with POSCO. And this was the material used in the LIVING KITCHEN Quadra and Jumbo sink bowl series.”

In-Sik Lee of POSCO Stainless Steel Marketing Office added, “STS304^* is the most widely used steel grade among POSCO stainless steel products. The STS304, currently provided to LIVING KITCHEN, is a renovated product specialized for application on sink bowls. It was developed by adjusting ingredients and materials at POSCO R&D Center. Compared to products of other companies, there is a distinct difference in quality. While conventional stainless steel has a milky color, the sink material supplied to LIVING KITCHEN has a mirror-like surface. Shaping has also become easier.”

▲ STS304 that POSCO provides for sink bowl application is laid out in front of LIVING KITCHEN CO., LTD.

l POSCO & LIVING KITCHEN CO., LTD: More Research for a Better Product

▲ Executive Director Sung-Wook Hong and POSCO’s In-Sik Lee in a conversation

LIVING KITCHEN is not just a company that produces sink bowls. It possesses all capabilities from product and mold design to actual production. The company develops more than five new products each year and brings them to the market. Then, how did the company come up with the INNOVILT-certified Quadra and Jumbo kitchen sink bowl series?

Executive Director Sung-Wook Hong said, “The latest trend in sink bowls is reducing unnecessary space around it. More and more consumers are looking for a simple yet “efficient” sink bowl. So recently, demands are much higher for right-angled sink bowls rather than round ones.” The “efficient” feature of the sink bowl refers to how wide and deep space can be used within the two-dimensional plane. In other words, it’s about maximizing the application of the three-dimensional space. A typical sink bowl has an internal angle of 100R^* and a depth of 190mm. LIVING KITCHEN set on developing products with 220mm deep and an internal angle of 20R or less. ^*R stands for radius, and the lower the number, the closer it is to a right angle.

Some might think that making a sink bowl is easy since it just looks like stainless steel bent a little. However, the development process was like a rough mountain to climb. Hong briefly recalled the long period of collaboration with POSCO. He said, “At first, we started a sample test with POSCO’s conventional STS304. We developed a new mold (cast) in line with the recent trend and repeatedly improved the equipment. However, despite repeated tests, the sample product kept bursting open.”

To make a wide and deep sink bowl, reducing the internal angle is essential. However, if the internal angle is reduced in the molding stage, the desired depth cannot be attained. Representative Director Hong said, “Steel materials have a mechanical property of breaking when a force exceeding a certain strength is applied. The limit differs for each steel material, and we concluded that it would be difficult to adopt the conventional STS304 to our product. We needed a new solution from the material stage.” Representative Director Sung-Wook Hong decided to take on the challenge with POSCO and go beyond the limits.

LIVING KITCHEN asked POSCO for advice, and POSCO Steel Solution Research Center and POSCO SPS, a steel processing company, stepped in to help. POSCO’s In-Sik Lee explained the collaboration process. “With the samples made at LIVING KITCHEN, POSCO researchers examined whether defects occurred because of the material or the mechanics. Based on the test results of the researchers, we succeeded in realizing the current quality by improving the conventional STS304 so that it can be suitable for the sink bowls of LIVING KITCHEN.”

Director Hong added, “POSCO was really quick to respond. Actually, the speed of response is important when it comes to collaboration between a steel company and its manufacturers. There are even times when the release of a new product is delayed by a month or two due to the late response. However, POSCO’s response was so fast that we were able to introduce the new products of high quality quickly.”

The cooperation between the two companies was not limited to the development of materials and product shapes. When you look closely at some sink bowls, you can see a pattern engraved on them, and this pattern is what makes the scratches on the sink bowl less noticeable. Therefore, many manufacturers opt to place a pattern on their sink bowls. Interestingly, the same pattern is used by all domestic sink bowl manufacturers. This is probably because developing a new pattern demands considerable cost and time. However, LIVING KITCHEN did not settle for this option. It knocked on the doors of POSCO once again to develop a unique pattern that is narrower than the conventional pattern. LIVING KITCHEN designed the pattern, POSCO’s technical team inspected it, and POSCO SPS developed a mold that enables it to be engraved on raw materials. The result was a huge success! LIVING KITCHEN came up with a narrower pattern compared to the conventional one and successfully applied a patent for it.

l First INNOVILT Certified Sink Bowl in Korea, Quadra & Jumbo

The sink bowl created by the collaboration between the two companies is Korea’s first INNOVILT sink bowl Quadra and Jumbo series. The Quadra series is a square sink bowl with a depth of 220mm and the inner angle reduced to 20~25R. It is made of STS304 for sinks developed with POSCO using a one-touch mold method and features a deep and spacious washing space and a neat design. The Jumbo series, a more popular type of sink bowl, also adopts STS304 for sinks. It eliminated unnecessary parts on the side, leading to an increase of about 13% in volume compared to conventional sink bowls of similar shape. Representative Director Hong said with confidence, “There are other companies that produce products of 20~25R inner angle. However, only our products have a depth of 215mm or more at the same inner angle.”

Why are wide and deep sink bowls preferred? The first reason that comes to mind would be that if sink bowls are wide, it becomes easier to wash large amounts of dishes, or that if the sink bowls are deep, less water will splatter on clothes or floors. However, Representative Director Hong mentioned something unexpected, “eco-friendliness”. Hong said, “The wider the sink bowl, the less water it requires. If the volume increases, you can finish washing dishes at once, which otherwise needs to be done twice. In that sense, I can say with confidence that LIVING KITCHEN’s INNOVILT sink bowl is a resource-efficient product.”

Another question arose. Wouldn’t it be easy to make a sink bowl with an internal angle of 90 degrees to the desired depth and size by welding the steel plate? Why were the products produced using a one-touch mold method rather than welding? Hong replied, “Producing square welding sink bowls is pricey because it requires a lot of manual work during welding. Mass production is also difficult. Besides, the weld parts portray scales and stains well, so even though the size and depth can be freely controlled, mass-producing welding sink bowls are difficult.”

LIVING KITCHEN is striving to secure sustainable production by adopting a one-touch mold method instead of a welding method, which causes greenhouse gas emissions. With the one-touch method, the company could reduce processing stages and increase productivity, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions from equipment use.

l INNOVILT Sink Bowls: How Are They Made?

Now for the highlight of the INNOVILT Alliance trip — taking a look at the production process. As we arrived at the factory, we found that the scene looked quite different from the previous INNOVILT Alliance trips. It was the first time to see so many employees in the factory and robotic arms moving as if they were one. POSCO’s STS304 coils for sinks stacked at the entrance were transformed into sink bowls with a human touch in each process, starting with uncoiling and flattening out the coil, shaping the product with a mold, trimming, washing, and packaging. Something impressive was noticed. After each step of the process, the employees rotated the product around and inspected the quality thoroughly. We didn’t guess so much effort was put into making a sink bowl! See the video below to see the manufacturing process of the INNOVILT sink bowl.

The manufactured sink bowl is then delivered in large quantities to construction companies or sold in the wholesale and retail markets. Although in small proportion, it is also exported overseas. In the case of the INNOVILT sink bowl Quadra and Jumbo series, it has successfully landed contracts of about 120,000 households annually with major companies.

l The Stability of Becoming An INNOVILT Alliance

▲ The INNOVILT Alliance mark placed on the wall of LIVING KITCHEN CO., LTD.

The INNOVILT Alliance mark was placed on the sidewall of the office. As we were taking a picture of it, Representative Director Sung-Wook Hong smiled, saying, “We even had a ceremony to hang this a while ago.” This made sense because we had visited the company less than two months after being selected as an INNOVILT alliance. Hong added, “LIVING KITCHEN Quadra and Jumbo series products are certified by POSCO and are made of POSCO materials, so we can do business with more confidence. We can better persuade clients to trust and use our products. I believe that the INNOVILT certification will not only enhance the trust of clients but also increase the confidence of our employees in the front line of development, production, and sales.”

POSCO’s In-Sik Lee also said, “I am very pleased to hear that the INNOVILT Alliance is also a merit to customers using our materials. Together as an INNOVILT Alliance, POSCO will utilize its infrastructure to provide sufficient business assistance so that we can share growth.”

In construction sites, many tasks require working on a scaffolding installed in mid-air. This means that field workers are always at risk of falling. In fact, statistics show that 60% of fatal accidents at construction sites last year were caused by falling.

Experts focused on the “scaffolding system” as a way to reduce falls on construction sites. They explained that with the scaffolding system properly installed, the frequency of fatal accidents can be reduced greatly. The Korean government is also striving to spread this scaffolding system with the “Clean Workplace Support Project,” which supports the costs of scaffolding system installation in SME construction companies.

So what makes the scaffolding system so important? On hearing that Eucho Industrial, which manufactures and leases scaffolding systems, has become an INNOVILT Alliance with POSCO, POSCO Newsroom decided to pay the company a visit. Let’s dive into the details about the scaffolding system!

l Scaffolding System: In Charge of the Safety On Construction Sites

Eucho Industrial’s material center is located two and a half hours drive away from Seoul. In the spacious yard, long round steel pillars were neatly stacked. As we were looking around the company, Eucho Industrial’s CEO Byeong-Gi Jeong came to greet us. “Welcome to Eucho Industrial. You’re looking at the scaffolding system manufactured at the plant just now. Are you curious about where and how these pillars are used? Let me share the details inside.”

The “INNOVILT Alliance” mark was the first thing that caught the eye, on visiting CEO Jeong’s office. Here we could meet Eucho Industrial’s Meong-Gon Kim and Young-Soon Chang, and also POSCO’s Min-Seok Lee who would be explaining to us about the scaffolding system.

First, we heard what a scaffolding is. Scaffolding is a temporary structure that makes work in high areas possible. It is a kind of a walk plate that enables workers to transport and move materials.

Such scaffolding is largely divided into steel pipe scaffolding and scaffolding systems. Steel pipe scaffolding is made by assembling steel pipes in a checkerboard shape and tightening them with bolts and nuts. Safety can be secured to a certain extent by using standardized materials and installing them tightly. However, in some small construction sites, the scaffolding is installed only in some places, or there are cases where the clamp is not properly tightened. These are considered as the major causes of fall accidents. The scaffolding system compensates for these shortcomings of steel pipe scaffolding. The walk plates, passage, and safety railing are fabricated beforehand at factories and installed in a batch. Unlike steel pipe scaffolding, which can be installed arbitrarily, the scaffolding system is much safer in that it is modularized by calculating its structure.

l Eucho Industrial: The First Company to Introduce the Scaffolding System in Korea

Eucho Industrial specializes in making and leasing temporary materials such as the scaffolding system. In 1995, the company started the first temporary material rental business in Korea, and in the same year introduced the scaffolding system for the first time in Korea, thus opening the era of the scaffolding system at construction sites. In 2009, Eucho Industrial also started to develop its own products.

▲ Eucho Industrial’s CEO Beong-Gi Jeong

“The conventional scaffolding system applied in the past was manufactured with overseas (France, Japan) technology, so it often didn’t fit the conditions of Korea. For example, as the height of workers of each country was different, Japanese products were too low for domestic workers while the case was the opposite in European products. Also, the price was too costly, making it difficult to apply to all sites.” This was why Eucho Industrial stepped up to develop a scaffolding system that was suitable for domestic construction sites.

l Ultralight High Strength Steel Pipe Made with POSCO Steel

Securing lightness in weight was what Eucho Industrial paid attention to when developing the scaffolding system. Because, in the case of conventional scaffolding, the heavyweight posed a burden on the workers at the sites. So, the new scaffolding system required steel pipes that are light and able to withstand the weight of the workers. And that was when Eucho Industrial encountered UL700 (Ultra Light 700), a steel pipe product made of POSCO’s high strength steel PosH690 (POSCO High strength 690). The ultra-light steel pipe was 25% lighter in weight and 40% higher in tensile strength than existing products — the perfect material that Eucho Industrial was seeking.

Eucho Industrial’s Myeong-Gon Kim said, “The more we reviewed the performance of UL700, the more we became certain that it was most appropriate for our new product. On the one hand, of course, there were skeptical views. It was because the product was new to be adopted, so there were issues regarding its supply and demand and machinability. However, we put our faith in it since it was made of POSCO steel.” POSCO’s Min-Seok Lee responded, “We also had confidence in the technology that the Eucho Industrial has had in the field of construction safety. We believed that we could create great synergy with Eucho Industrial which recognized the importance of construction safety earlier and pioneered the temporary material sector.”

In 2010, the cooperation between the two companies finally yielded prominent results. A full-scale mass production system was established for ES700 (Eucho System 700), the ultralight and high-strength scaffolding system adopting UL700. It was the result of endless doubts and concerns about product performance and repeated experiments and tests to solve them. “The product was sent to a related institute to check how strong it is, and the product passed the test. However, due to the nature of rental products, there were opinions that the quality couldn’t be verified by testing only new products. So we threw the product on the roof of the factory over and over again to damage it. I remember that everyone was pleased with the result that the quality was the same as the new product even after use.”

▲ Eucho Industrial’s CEO Byeong-Gi Jeong and POSCO’s Min-Seok Lee looking at ES700, the ultralight high-strength scaffolding system

Eucho Industrial’s Young-Soon Chang also thanked POSCO, who worked with Eucho Industrial the entire process, from material selection to mass production. “There were times when I wondered whether our product was truly competitive. However, since we are an SME, we lacked the infrastructure to conduct test performance. At that time, POSCO suggested experimenting to see if Eucho Industrial products were indeed strong. As a result, we carried out structural performance tests on ES700 and products of other companies at POSCO R&D Center in Songdo. All three tests showed that our products possessed better strength. It was a reassuring moment to have a partner with whom we could share and solve problems together.”

l ES700: Equipped with All Functions Required On Sites

Eucho Industrial explained that the ES700 Ultralight Scaffolding System has three main advantages. First of all, the biggest advantage is its lightweight. The thickness of the ES700 is 1.92mm for the vertical material and 1.8mm for the horizontal material. Both the vertical and horizontal materials have become 15% thinner than conventional steel pipe scaffolding, which is 2.3mm thick. The weight was also reduced by 25%, compared to the existing product, which demonstrates that the weight of 4 to 5 materials of other companies equals the weight of 6 to 8 ES700s. It also reduces transportation costs as it becomes lighter, enabling the transportation of more quantities at once. Eucho Industrial CEO Jeong went on to explain, “This isn’t all. Because it is easy to transport and handle, the constriction time is also shortened, and construction efficiency is increased. It is also effective in preventing musculoskeletal diseases of workers on the site who are carrying the materials.”

But doesn’t reducing the thickness weaken the product’s strength to withstand the load? Wouldn’t the safety also be reduced along with its weight? POSCO Min-Seok Lee stepped in to explain the strength of ES700.

“ES700 is made of CGH690 and PosH690, a POSCO World Premium Product (WTP) high-strength steel with a tensile strength of 690MPa and higher. Most of the products of other companies have a tensile strength of 400MPa. I think I need not explain which one is safer. Since it is made of high-strength steel, the damage rate is much lower than that of conventional products.”

“The elongation, which is the rate at which the steel does not break and stretches, is also excellent.” Myeong-Gon Kim added an explanation, “If a steel product is just strong without being able to be stretched, it will break easily even with a small impact. On the other hand, steel products with strong flexibility — high percent elongation — are excellent in shock absorption, so they are quick to recover even when hit hard. Increasing both strength and elongation is difficult to implement in steel products. But POSCO technology made it happen.”

The second advantage is compatibility. ES700 can be applied to any existing scaffolding. This is differentiated from existing products that must be purchased as a full set. Myeong-Gon Kim added, “The walk plates for the scaffolding system is more expensive than conventional scaffolding. With the ES700, it can be used together with any other walk plates, thus reducing the cost of purchasing and managing scaffoldings. It’s much economical.”

The last advantage is simplicity. Thanks to the simple shape of the product, it can be installed quickly and easily. Unlike conventional steel pipe scaffolding, which requires scaffolding installation experts, with ES700, you have to simply insert the wedge pin of the horizontal material into the bracket of the vertical material, and it’s all done! Once the horizontal level is well aligned, anyone — even a worker with no experience — can install it easily and safely. Does the easy installation make it less safe? The answer is no. The structural safety of the product is also excellent due to the high friction area between the vertical and horizontal materials. It is also easy to disassemble as it doesn’t require any separate process to remove the pins. The overall cost is also estimated to be reduced with the cost saved in material construction and labor.

Ik-Won Choi, CEO of construction company GMT, said, “Experts specializing in installation and construction acknowledge how good ES700 is. It is light enough that a single person can carry up to 10 products, and the labor cost for installation and disassembly is more than 15% efficient than other products. When organizing and logistics costs are added, the difference is up to 20%. The workers also prefer construction sites where Eucho Industrial products are applied. Since it is such a competitive product, we have no choice but to increase the stock of ES700 products.”

l ES700: How Are They Made?

“Now you know what the ES700 is. But aren’t you curious about how it is made?” said CEO Jeong after his explanation. We quickly put on our safety caps and headed to the factory.

First, POSCO high-strength steel (PosH690, CGH690) is shaped into 48.6mm-wide (for vertical materials) and 42.7mm-wide (for horizontal materials) steel pipes (UL700) and delivered to Eucho Industrial. The pipes then undergo five stages to become the ES700. The first is the cutting process, where the steel pipes are cut according to the five different modular lengths of horizontal and vertical materials. Holes are drilled for connecting pins in the steel pipes for vertical materials, and a “C”-shaped groove is made in the steel pipes for horizontal materials. This process is called the punching and notching process.

▲ Steel pipes that have undergone the punching process (left) and the notching process (right)

Once the vertical and horizontal materials have completed the punching and notching process, brackets and wedge pins are welded to the steel pipes. The vertical materials are then shipped to the plating plant where they go under a separate hot-dip galvanizing process to increase corrosion resistance as they have to withstand the load directly. The horizontal materials also undergo a rust prevention process through zinc treatment on the welding parts. Finally, impurities are removed from the surfaces of both materials, and the ES700 Ultralight Scaffolding System is complete.

l ES700: Acknowledged by Workers on Sites

Eucho Industrial’s Young-soon Chang said with confidence, “The response in the field is great. They say that it is light and easy to install, so it speeds up the work. Recently, reorder requests are coming in from sites where the products have already been used. Isn’t that proof that our products satisfy them?”

However, ES700 was not well received in the beginning. It was because the price is 20 to 30% higher than other products. Since temporary materials are perceived to be materials that are used for a short time anyway, many try to reduce costs by utilizing cheap materials imported from overseas. However, since ES700 is made with POSCO premium steel, its price wasn’t competitive. So what was the strategy of both companies to overcome this issue?

POSCO’s Min-Seok Lee replied, “We appealed to the price competitiveness of the ES700 in terms of overall cost, not just the initial purchasing cost. ES700 is lightweight and easy to install and disassemble, reducing transportation, storage, and labor costs. The initial purchasing cost may seem pricey, but in terms of overall cost, the products are much cheaper than conventional products.”

CEO Jeong also added, “If you make the product with imported materials, you can, of course, sell it at a lot cheaper price. However, there is an incomparable difference between the quality of POSCO steel and cheap imported steel. When the material is folded, cheap imported materials show multiple cracks. This is a problem that does not occur at all in POSCO Steel. From the user’s point of view, products made with imported steel may seem good at first because of the cheap price, but they cause additional costs since they have to be repaired for damages later on. Since ES700 is made of high-strength steel, it is more durable than conventional products and has a longer life. In the long run, the durable ES700 is much more economical.”

Eucho Industrial has never thought of utilizing steel from overseas, whose safety is uncertified. With this belief, ES700 has been recognized for its excellence and was applied to major construction projects, such as the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Samsung Electronics R5 in Suwon, and POSCO Incubating Center. It has gradually expanded its market share, and currently, it is also being used at the construction site of Section 10 of the Hamyang-Changnyeong Expressway.

The ES700 Ultralight Scaffolding System listed its name as an INNOVILT product last year. Eucho Industrial’s Young-Soon Chang said, “Since the product is certified as premium steel for construction material by POSCO, we are filled with confidence and pride when meeting clients. I believe that the influence INNOVILT Alliance creates will be strong.”

The two companies are also preparing to leap further with the INNOVILT certification. They are planning to expand the use of ES700 by improving its value chain and accelerate market share. There are already responses from the sites saying that they will only use ES700 in the future. With this momentum, POSCO and Eucho Industrial will also work together to foster installation companies specializing in INNOVILT products”.

At the end of the interview, CEO Jeong said, “Innovation is only possible with differentiated technology and know-how, and with persistence and passion to keep going. We are pleased to have POSCO as such a reliable partner. We will continue to pioneer the development of products that can lead the construction market with outstanding materials.”

Finishing materials are used to complete the exterior part of a building. They serve to enhance the aesthetic features of the building as well as protect the surface from external impacts. The materials are categorized into interior and exterior material, roofing material, etc., according to their usage. Since finishing materials are exposed — thus visible and touchable — unlike structural materials, the context of a building can vary depending on which finishing material is used.

Jooshin Co., Ltd. specializes in producing and selling finishing materials optimized for various purposes, such as for exterior walls of buildings, interior, roofs, and so on. Founded in 2001, the company has worked on product development continuously and, as a result, grown into a small giant with more than 40 patents today. Behind the impressive performance, CEO Myeong-Woo Yoo’s management philosophy, change and innovation, lies.

▲ CEO Myeong-Woo Yoo explaining the management philosophy of Jooshin Co., Ltd.

“Jooshin does not develop a product unless a patent is a prerequisite. It means that we focus only on high value-added products that go beyond conventional products with new non-existent ideas. The conditions in the market change from day to day and demands from clients are becoming more challenging. That is why Jooshin aims to create new trends by grasping and responding to market changes.”

The persistent efforts did bear fruits. Currently, Jooshin Co., Ltd. stands out as a company leading the top 1% of roof and exterior market in Korea. In 2016, the company developed roof and exterior materials that adopt POSCO steel plate and SUPER ALCOSTA, a highly corrosion and heat resistant aluminum plated steel plate, and participated in major public projects, such as the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Stadium and Incheon International Airport. At the beginning of this year, seven of the company’s products were selected as POSCO INNOVILT products. As a result, it has become a single company with the most INNOVILT products. Among them, ZintaMax, the main product of the company, is the subject today.

l ZintaMax, The Beauty Imposed by Variations of Straight Lines

ZintaMax is a block-shaped finishing material that stretches out in a straight line. It can be installed on the exterior and interior walls of the building, on the ceiling, and all other places, excluding the roof. Since each finishing material has different strengths and employs different construction methods depending on where it is adopted, there aren’t many products that can be used for multiple purposes. On the other hand, ZintaMax is highly versatile as it can be installed anywhere a finishing material is needed with high strength and simple construction method thanks to PosMAC, its raw material.

Then what about the design? At first glance, you might think that simple straight lines and curves are all about the product, but many different kinds of design can be created by using ZintaMax. Its sizing can be flexible to fit for various purposes. For example, if you drill a hole and install it with lighting, it transforms into a decent interior material.

And this is not all. By utilizing the color printed steel product, which is a trend in the market these days, it is also possible to produce ZintaMax in diverse colors and patterns, such as yellow, blue, wood, and marble. POSCO’s PosMAC, the raw material of ZintaMax, goes under surface treatment at POSCO C&C and is then sent to Jooshin to be fabricated into the product. POSCO’s Jin-Ah Kim explained, “The color printed steel of POSCO C&C embodies the features of other materials almost perfectly so there is little difference in appearance from actual wood or marble. It is an Sustainable material that can realize the interior and exterior desired by clients without damaging nature.”

Another thing, with POSCO C&C’s Multi-Color Steel Sheet, more diverse designs can be created. Multi-Color Steel Sheet is a color steel product where multiple colors can be expressed simultaneously on a single-coil, and POSCO C&C is the sole domestic manufacturer. POSCO’s Jin-Ah Kim said, “When ZintaMax is made with these Multi-Color Steel Sheets, all the colors of the convex and concave parts can be expressed differently. The distinct and specialized design can satisfy the diverse needs of clients.”

l Design, Safety, Durability: 3-in-1!

ZintaMax, an innovative item in the conventional metal finishing material market, was born through collaboration between Jooshin Co., Ltd., and POSCO. While carrying out a joint study in 2019 regarding steel construction materials, Jooshin Co., Ltd., POSCO, and POSCO C&C came together to develop a finishing material with a unique design. Jooshin invested in facilities for production, while POSCO and POSCO C&C developed new colors and designs for the products. “No matter how good silk is, it can not be called a garment without proper altering. The case is the same here. Excellent products like the multi-color steel sheet and PosMAC will truly be acknowledged only when there are practical technologies to apply to buildings. POSCO and Jooshin worked on the details together, and ZintaMax is the result.”

Finishing material should be safe as well as aesthetically pleasing. How strong is ZintaMax against external stimuli, such as fire or corrosion? CEO Yoo proudly explained, “ZintaMax does not burn in fire and also has aesthetic features as well. These days, the incombustibility of finishing materials, like the roof and exterior materials, is being emphasized due to a series of fires that broke out in warehouses. Relevant laws have also been revised, banning the use of flammable finishing materials in buildings above three floors. ZintaMax is safe to use because it is made of POSCO C&C incombustible colored steel that does not ignite at high temperatures and generate less smoke and harmful gases.”

Since it is made of POSCO steel, the finishing material is also highly resistant to corrosion. “PosMAC, the raw material of ZintaMax, has a stronger plating layer than conventional galvanized steel, so it is highly wear-resistant and scratch-resistant. Generally, the cutting surfaces or parts that are scratched during installation gather rust. However, PosMAC has an oxide layer called Simonkolleite made by plating zinc with magnesium and aluminum. This layer prevents the corrosion of the surface as well as the machined parts.”

l INNOVILT ZintaMax: How Are They Made?

The aesthetic yet safe and durable ZintaMax. How is it made? The entire process was walked along with an explanation from Jae-Wook Yoo. He said, “The manufacturing process of ZintaMax is largely divided into three stages. The large steel coil that you can see over there is color printed steel made of PosMAC. POSCO’s PosMAC is coated at POSCO C&C and delivered here to Jooshin in coil shapes. The coil-shaped steel sheets go under an Uncoiler to make them flat. Next, they pass through the forming roll where they are shaped into desired forms. When they are put into the roller, the bumpy shapes of the ZintaMax are complete.” The manufacturing process was as simple as its construction method. The shortened construction period could also help reduce cost.

What is unique is that most of these processes are performed directly on site. It is a differentiated part from general finishing materials that are transported to the construction site after making finished products at the factory. Director Yoo Jae-wook said, “Because we look at the building to be applied in the field and make it right away, it can be constructed without any length limitation.”

l You Can See ZintaMax Here!

Buildings adopting ZintaMax can easily be found around us. Starbucks, the mega-franchise coffee shop, is an example. The recent Starbucks coffee shop that opened in Gimhae adopted a wooden pattern ZintaMax to the front of its exterior wall. On the outside, it looks just like wood. “If the walls were made with real wood, the processing cost would have been high, and there must have been a fair amount of logging.” On the side and back walls of the coffee shop building, a dark-gray zinc pattern ZintaMax was applied. The entire building demonstrates the attractive features of the color printed steel sheets that can embody all materials and colors without any restrictions. The charms of ZintaMax can also be seen in other various buildings, including the Gwangyang POSCO Childcare Center and the Sharp Gallery in Seoul.

Export prospects also look bright. Jae-Wook Yoo said, “We have received positive responses from Southeast Asian clients for suggesting wooden patterned ZintaMax. ZintaMax, which has both the durability and design features of steel, will serve as a definite alternative in Southern Asia where the deformation of construction wood is frequent due to hot weather.” He also added, “Although all discussions have been temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect tangible results soon.”

l Jooshin & POSCO, “Standing Out by Working Together”

If there is a single word that binds Jooshin and POSCO, it would be “First Mover”. Jooshin has been expanding the use of not only PosMAC but also PosPVD, a next-generation surface-treated steel plate developed by POSCO, in the steel construction material market. Regarding the cooperation between the two companies, Jae-Wook Yoo stated, “Working with POSCO Group, I could feel the passion that the entire group has for developing new products. They are eager to lead the market and do not hesitate to try out different attempts. Just like a pioneering leader. Such features fit well with the identity of Jooshin, which is to pursue creativity and innovation.”

Jin-Ah Kim also responded, “Whenever we find clients who are worried about how to construct with colored steel, we show them ZintaMax. ZintaMax is proactively applied to projects of POSCO E&C, and so it is not an exaggeration to say that it is growing together with POSCO Group. Jooshin always stimulates us with new ideas making us wonder where else we can use POSCO products in such a variety of ways.”

With the INNOVILT Alliance, the synergy shown by the two companies is expected to expand further. Both companies are working together on the R&D of a louver^* with non-flammable performance. Conventional wooden louvers are flame-retardant, but not non-flammable, so if this collaboration is successful, a safer louver can be introduced to the market. ^*louver: interior wood material used to prevent glare.

CEO Myeong-Woo Yoo commented that INNOVILT Alliance is a strategy of going together. At the end of the interview, he said, ”I’m excited for POSCO’s challenge to create a new structure with partner companies. Though the way of going together might not be easy, I am looking forward to the future that Jooshin and POSCO will create together.”

※ This content was produced in compliance with the COVID-19 quarantine guidelines before ‘Social Distancing Step 2.5’ was imposed.

Jecheol Industrial Co., Ltd. is located in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. On arriving at the plant, there were rainwater storage tanks, well over the height of an adult, laid out in the yard. Since they were made with PosMAC, which is corrosion-resistant steel, it looked magnificent even in the rain. POSCO Newsroom sat down with Kwon-Duk Seo, CEO of Jecheol Industrial Co., Ltd., Director Sung-Yeal Bae, and POSCO’s Yu-Rae Jo and listened to the story of PosMAC rainwater storage tank produced by Jecheol Industrial Co., Ltd.

l The World’s Only Manufacturer of PosMAC Rainwater Storage Tank — Jecheol Industrial Co., Ltd.

▲ Kwon-Duk Seo, CEO of Jecheol Industrial Co., Ltd., introducing the PosMAC rainwater storage tank

Founded in 1999, Jecheol Industrial Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer specialized in corrugated steel pipes. Since its establishment, it has been producing more advanced corrugated steel pipes through continuous R&D resulting in several related patents. Among them, “PosMAC Rainwater Storage Tank” would be the most focalized product of the manufacturer. PosMAC stands for POSCO Magnesium Aluminum Alloy Coating. It is a ternary alloy coated steel composed of zinc, magnesium, and aluminum, and it is 5 to 10 times more corrosion-resistant material than conventional galvanized steel. All products produced by Jecheol Industrial, including PosMAC rainwater storage tanks, use PosMAC steel as a raw material.

“Jecheol Industrial has never used any other material but POSCO steel products ever since its establishment. This shows how much we trust its quality. Before PosMAC, we used galvanized steel sheets produced by POSCO, and as PosMAC — an upgraded material — was developed, we changed all our raw material to PosMAC,” said Kwon-Duk Seo, CEO of Jecheol Industrial Co., Ltd.

PosMAC rainwater storage tank is an sustainable rainwater harvesting system jointly developed by POSCO, Jecheol Industrial, and RIST (Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology). Since PosMAC is a highly corrosion-resistant material, it has proved to be the perfect material for building a rainwater storage facility. PosMAC rainwater storage tanks are used for two purposes, one is rainwater utilization, and the other is stormwater management.

If the purpose is to collect, purify, and reuse rainwater, a rainwater utilization facility could be installed. Whereas if it is to retain water to prevent stormwater runoffs, a stormwater management facility is what does the trick. The reservoirs that we can see easily around factories and apartments are an example of stormwater management facilities. However, these reservoirs are hard to manage. Garbage piles up around them and they act as a breeding spot for larvae of pests, such as mosquitoes. By installing a stormwater management facility underground in the form of tanks, the surrounding environment becomes cleaner, and the surface can be used for various purposes, such as parking lots or green areas.

Jecheol Industrial is the only company in the world that produces PosMAC rainwater storage tanks. CEO Kwon-Duk Seo said, “We have seen some cases of rainwater storage tanks that use corrugated steel pipes overseas. However, they were made with galvanized steel and none of them used PosMAC.”

The company’s deep ties with POSCO and its passion for technology development played a key role in making Jecheol Industrial the world’s only PosMAC rainwater storage tank manufacturer. POSCO enabled the company to pioneer a new path with this rainwater storage tank. It was in 2001 when POSCO first knocked on the door of Jecheol Industrial in an effort to co-create a rainwater storage tank that meets the relevant requirements of Korea. Jecheol Industrial, POSCO, and Korea Institute of Construction Technology (KICT) put their heads together to develop the technology. The material for the new product was changed from galvanized steel to PosMAC, and it went through numerous trials and errors and several tests as well.

It took ten years for the prototype of PosMAC rainwater storage tank to be materialized. Director Sung-Yeal Bae said, “I remember the day we buried the 500-ton PosMAC rainwater storage tank prototype in Seoul in 2011. It marked the beginning of PosMAC rainwater storage tank. After inspecting the system in collaboration with RIST, we were able to handle trouble-shootings one by one, creating the product that it is today.”

CEO Kwon-Duk Seo added, “The technology that we possess is something that has been accumulated over such a long period of time. It cannot be copied by any other company. Moreover, our company also holds more than ten patents related to rainwater storage tanks.”

l PosMAC Rainwater Storage Tank: Easily Constructible, Economical, and sustainable

While the capacity of rainwater utilization facilities is usually 500 tons or less, stormwater management facilities boast its large-scale capacity, with total capacity reaching at least 1,000 tons. Jecheol Industrial mainly produces rainwater storage tanks for rainwater utilization facilities and stormwater management facilities of up to 3,000 tons.

The most common rainwater storage tanks in Korea are made of plastic and concrete. CEO Kwon-Duk Seo emphasized, “PosMAC rainwater storage tanks are more easily constructible, economical, and sustainable compared to the others.” He also brought some data to prove it. Based on the data, there are three main advantages of PosMAC rainwater storage tanks. The first advantage is its constructability. Let’s say that we are constructing a rainwater storage tank with a capacity of 1,000 tons. In this case, a plastic tank requires 15 days and a concrete tank may consume 40 days for installation. However, for PosMAC rainwater storage tanks, it takes just six days.

The second advantage is that it is economical. Since PosMAC rainwater storage tanks have a short construction period, the overall construction cost is also about 30% lower than others. In addition, the PosMAC rainwater storage tank is easy to maintain and doesn’t require additional waterproofing work. Plastic tanks have a complicated internal structure, which makes maintenance difficult, and partial repair is also hard in case of damages. Concrete tanks require regular waterproofing work since water leaks frequently through the gaps in the connection.

The third advantage is that it is sustainable. Steel, the material used to make PosMAC rainwater storage tanks, can be recycled over 99%. It is in contrast to plastic and concrete tanks that are disposed of as wastes. CEO Kwon-Duk Seo remarked, “Does it make sense to use concrete or plastic materials that pollute the environment in making rainwater storage tanks eventually built to protect the environment?” On acknowledging its distinctiveness and economic feasibility, Korea Land and Housing Corporation selected the PosMAC rainwater storage tank as the “LH Excellent New Technology of 2019.”

l From PosMAC Steel Plates to INNOVILT Rainwater Storage Tanks

Then, how is this award-winning rainwater storage tank made? PosMAC rainwater storage tank goes through eight stages of production. First, POSCO’s PosMAC steel sheets are cut and processed at the Coil Center into skelps — steel cut into strips. When these coil-shaped skelps arrive at Jecheol Industrial, they go under an Uncoiler, making them flat. Next, they are formed into wave shapes, and these wave-shaped PosMAC plates are gradually rotated to create a cylindrical rainwater storage tank. The cylindrical tank is cut according to the size required by the customer. After this, a cover or a partition wall is welded to the end and other subparts are produced as well. The completed rainwater storage tank and its parts are shipped after final inspection, and they are assembled and installed on-site. See the video showing the entire manufacturing process of the PosMAC rainwater storage tank.

PosMAC rainwater storage tanks help prevent drought and flooding that have become frequent recently due to climate change. In the event of a drought, the collected rainwater is utilized for bathroom, landscaping, and emergency use. In the case of heavy rain, the rainwater is stored temporarily and discharged later to prevent flood damage.

l PosMAC Rainwater Storage Tank, Is It Stable?

PosMAC rainwater storage tanks are assembled and installed on-site, then isn’t there any risk of water leakage? Welding seems like a safer option than the method of bolting when connecting the tanks. CEO Kwon-Duk Seo replied, “There is no risk of water leaking because the rubber used to seal the bolt and nut joints does not react to water. Related research and verification have shown that the bolt and nut joints using this material would last about 100 years.”

As the conversation continued, the topic moved on to water quality. Jecheol Industrial, together with POSCO and RIST, conducted a hydroponics test using PosMAC rainwater storage tanks at the Protected Horticulture Research Institute of the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science (NIHHS) in 2018. The test result revealed that the rainwater quality collected in the PosMAC tank was similar or even better than groundwater and tap water. There was no trace of any E. coli or heavy metals as well. CEO Seo explained, “Rainwater is usually contaminated by sunlight and changes in temperature. PosMAC rainwater storage tanks are buried underground. Sunlight can’t reach there, and the temperature change is negligible, so the chances of contamination are fairly low.”

▲ Source: Test result of the hydroponics test using water from PosMAC rainwater storage tanks at the NIHHS Protected Horticulture Research Institute (December 4, 2018). Melon A, which showed better growth, was grown with rainwater from the PosMAC tank. Whereas, melon B was grown with groundwater.

l PosMAC Rainwater Storage Tank: Beware of Fake Products!

As mentioned earlier, Jecheol Industrial is the only company in the world that produces PosMAC rainwater storage tanks. These days, however, there are some fake products that mimic PosMAC rainwater storage tanks. These products use aluminum or zinc galvanized steel that are not as corrosion resistant as PosMAC is. They also adopt welding methods to connect each steel sheet instead of inserting rubber materials, thus damaging the inner layer. In short, the material degrades the durability of the product, and the processing method also downgrades stability.

Why is the company so sensitive to fake products? Is it just because they are competitors? The answer is no. CEO Seo replied that this was because it could cause customers to misunderstand Jecheol Industrial’s genuine products. When rainwater storage tanks are made in the form of corrugated steel pipes with aluminum or zinc galvanized steel, they are bound to be oxidized over time. The misunderstanding begins here. The moment people start to think that corrugated steel tanks rust easily, the negative image will spread in the market, and this will affect PosMAC rainwater storage tanks as well. In response to these worries, Jecheol Industrial put the phrase, “Beware of fake products” on the main page of its website, emphasizing the distinctiveness of PosMAC rainwater storage tanks.

CEO Seo said, “The PosMAC rainwater storage tank looks similar to other corrugated steel tanks, but it is a completely different product — from raw material to structure, function, and installation method.” POSCO’s Yu-Rae Jo added, “In addition, PosMAC rainwater storage tank is an INNOVILT product, guaranteed by POSCO. You can see it on the inspection certificate of the PosMAC rainwater storage tank.”

l The Synergy Between POSCO & Jecheol Industrial Continues

▲ The INNOVILT Alliance mark placed on the wall of Jecheol Industrial Co., Ltd.

POSCO and Jecheol Industrial are tied as INNOVILT Alliances. Ever since the PosMAC rainwater storage tank was selected as an INNOVILT product, inquiries from customers have been rising. CEO Seo said, “As POSCO guarantees product quality with the INNOVILT Alliance, customers trust our products more, and employees are able to sell them with more confidence.”

POSCO’s Yu-Rae Jo also expressed his gratitude. He said, “Last year, the cumulative sales of PosMAC exceeded 1 million tons. The reason how PosMAC could shine brightly in such a short time is that many companies like Jecheol Industrial credited and utilized PosMAC. In the conservative construction market, it isn’t easy to choose new material over conventional ones. But Jecheol Industries believed in us and used PosMAC from the very beginning. I think that such cases have come together and enabled us to cumulative sales of one million tons.”

Director Sung-Yeal Bae also added another story. It was about how Jecheol Industrial was able to resolve a client complaint with help from POSCO. He explained, “PosMAC tends to lose its gloss when exposed to excessive heat. In the early stages of development, a customer saw this and filed a complaint suspecting that the product was from stock and not newly made. At the time, the problem could be solved by showing the material related data that POSCO had provided. Since the data is from POSCO, a reliable company, we are receiving great help in terms of reliability.”

▲ (From left) POSCO’s Yu-Rae Jo, Jecheol Industrial Director Sung-Yeal Bae, and Jecheol Industrial CEO Kwon-Duk Seo looking at the PosMAC rainwater storage tank

Jecheol Industrial and POSCO are currently envisioning a new project. They are working on a strategy to create a demonstration case of a “river type corrugated steel tank” that is installed along a stream to prevent the stream from drying out or flooding. They are also working on the research and development of an “underground joint zone,” an upgraded version of the PosMAC rainwater storage tank. It seemed apparent that when the two join forces, the PosMAC market and the rainwater storage tank market will continue to expand. Using POSCO’s Sustainable steel to make tanks will benefit society as well — since it will help resolve water shortages and also protect the environment.

You might have had an experience where you went shopping for shoes and found the exact design that you want. You asked the sales clerk for the size in 235 mm and found out that the shoe comes in 10 mm size units. Since you still wanted it, you bought it in 240 mm, but every time you wear them, it makes you wonder what it would be like if you could customize them to 235 mm.

This issue isn’t the case with clothes and shoes only. The construction market faces the same task as well: finding items that suit and fit perfectly. Pos-H, which is produced by Dong Yang S. Tec, is an excellent solution for the problem. How does Dong Yang S. Tec do this, and how is it related to POSCO? Find out the answers at POSCO Newsroom.

l POSCO’s Partner for 40 Years: Dong Yang S. Tec

Two signs on the outer wall of Dong Yang S. Tec factory caught the eye. A shiny INNOVILT Alliance mark was placed next to another sign that read “POSCO Processing Center.” The signs were evidence showing that the relationship between POSCO and Dong Yang S. Tec was truly extraordinary. To delve into the story, POSCO Newsroom sat down for an interview with Haeng-Jea Lee (in charge of the Steel Structure department of Dong Yang S. Tec plant), Jin-Young Kwack (Dong Yang S. Tec Marketing Group Sales Team), and Han-Jo Kang (POSCO Construction Steel Materials Marketing Office).

Founded in 1981, Dong Yang S. Tec is an official processing center that cuts, processes, and sells steel materials produced by POSCO. About 100 employees are working in Daejeon, two factories of Pohang, and Seoul. Dong Yang S. Tec made its name known in the Korean steel industry as POSCO’s processing center and was announced as POSCO’s INNOVILT Alliance earlier this year, thus further strengthening its partnership with POSCO. The reason behind the selection was its unique Pos-H. Pos-H is Built-up H (BH) section steel, a construction steel material used to build the framework of buildings. The unique feature of Pos-H is that it can be customized according to the needs of clients — a breakthrough in the conventional steel market.

The conventional Rolled H (RH) section steel can only produce products in a certain fixed size. However, in the case of Pos-H, the BH section steel, clients can choose the desired size, and the product is manufactured by cutting and welding as required.

▲ A sample Pos-H at Dong Yang S. Tec

Dong Yang S. Tec and POSCO have jointly developed Pos-H since 2015. It was a momentous occasion, with the cooperation between two companies taking the next step: becoming a new product development and production partner. Dong Yang S. Tec’s Jin-Young Kwack said, “Pos-H and INNOVILT Alliance was a breakthrough for us. In the past, our main business was simply processing and distributing products made with POSCO steel. However, thanks to Pos-H and INNOVILT Alliance, we could boost sales and client credibility, despite various difficulties in the market.”

Dong Yang S. Tec made bold investments regarding facilities by remodeling factories and introducing new machinery to produce Pos-H. POSCO also stepped in, providing technical research support to make sure that the investments of Dong Yang S. Tec would not be in vain but yield positive results. POSCO’s Han-Jo Kang said, “When proposing Pos-H to construction companies, POSCO, Dong Yang S. Tec, and the design engineering firm visit them together. The three of us join forces, like a three-way collaboration. Pos-H is much economical and more appropriate to meet delivery dates with enhanced productivity compared to convention RH section steel. As these advantages became known, the supply of Pos-H is gradually expanding in the conservative construction market, where the use of RH section steel is dominant.”

l Pos-H: Economical Yet Durable

The greatest advantage of Pos-H is its cost-saving effect made possible through weight reduction. Pos-H can save 15~20% of the total amount of steel needed for production compared to RH section steel. Let’s say that a construction site requires 100 tons of RH section steel. With Pos-H, it is possible to build a strong and durable building with just 85 tons. Haeng-Jea Lee of Dong Yang S. Tec remarked, “In the past, all buildings had to be constructed according to the fixed specifications of RH section steel. However, Pos-H allows new customized orders that suit the architectural design. For example, suppose you need steel with a height of 850mm. In the case of RH section steel, the standard is set at 900mm, so you will have to change the structure design to meet the specifications, but as for Pos-H, it can be customized to 850mm. Since the material becomes lighter, cost reduction is an obvious outcome.”

▲ Dong Yang S. Tec acquires stable product quality by applying an automated system in the welding process, the core phase in manufacturing Pos-H.

Now that we’ve seen the many advantages of Pos-H, what about its safety? One might think that Pos-H wouldn’t be as strong as RH section steel since it is made by welding. However, POSCO’s Han-Jo Kang said that this assumption wasn’t real. “After more than half a year of research together by POSCO, Dong Yang S. Tec, and RIST (Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology in Pohang), Pos-H is revealed to have at the least equal or better performance compared to RH section steel. People might think that when pulled on both sides, the weld zone of Pos-H might break. However, after multiple series of high-strength tests, it turned out that the steel broke in the middle and not the weld zone. This shows how strong Pos-H is,” said Kang with a sense of pride and confidence.

Then how is Pos-H different from RC (reinforced concrete), a traditional material of architectural structures? Haeng-Jea Lee said that Pos-H has mainly three advantages over RC. First, Pos-H is a sustainable material. Compared to concrete, which is non-recyclable, iron, the raw material of Pos-H, can be reused indefinitely. Second, Pos-H is economical. RC has complicated processing stages and long construction periods that, in turn, lead to increased costs. In comparison, Pos-H can be produced and delivered in a shorter time, thus, reducing the overall cost as well. Third, Pos-H is resistant to earthquakes. The material used by Dong Yang S. Tec to produce Pos-H is SN355 and HSA500 — both POSCO’s earthquake-resistant steel.

l INNOVILT Pos-H: How Is It Made?!

Pos-H manufacturing was in full action at the factory. Several cranes installed on the ceiling were moving the large steel plates incessantly on the manufacturing process. At the end of the process, the steel plates bearing the POSCO mark were transformed into the strong Pos-H.

The manufacturing process of Pos-H can be divided into seven steps. When POSCO’s high quality hot rolled steel or steel plates are delivered, they are cut into the desired size ordered by the client. The material is then shaped into an H shape, welded firmly, and calibrated. The finished product goes under inspection regarding its length and weld. For a more vivid experience, check out the entire manufacturing process in the video below. (Korean)

The Pos-H is sent to a secondary processing company before being used on site. Secondary processing companies perform several works, including hole piercing, painting, and attaching small parts so that the manufactured Pos-H can be used at the construction site. The final Pos-H products are used in the framework of various architectures around us, such as bridges, factories, and buildings.

l The Credible Dong Yang S. Tec

The main factor that makes Dong Yang S. Tec different is that all of its raw materials are 100% POSCO steel. This demonstrates the true identity of an INNOVILT Alliance. Haeng-Jea Lee explained that Dong Yang S. Tec doesn’t use steel from other companies, making the company credible among clients. Jin-Young Kwack added, “Dong Yang S. Tec is a POSCO INNOVILT Alliance. The title itself shows how credible the company is. POSCO provides one-stop solutions from the raw material stage to the sales stage. And also follow-up management in case a problem with the product comes up. But as of present, there hasn’t been a single case.”

The visit to Dong Yang S. Tec could be summarized into a single word — Trust. Dong Yang S. Tec was able to gather credibility and trust from clients through the INNOVILT Alliance with POSCO. POSCO and Dong Yang S. Tec could maintain 40 years of cooperation with this trust. The credible Pos-H was a result of the trust-based relationship between the two companies. POSCO Newsroom looks forward to the next 40 years of both companies and wishes the best on their journey towards a new leap forward — INNOVILT Alliance.

Deep into the details, there was a secret key that enabled this seemingly impossible task — corrugated steel plate. This corrugated steel plate is made with POSCO high-performance hot rolled steel. And ‘ChungAmEnC’, which manufactures and constructs corrugated steel plates, is one of POSCO’s INNOVILT Alliance.

In November last year, POSCO launched ‘INNOVILT,’ a premium brand of steel products for construction. ‘INNOVILT Alliance‘ are the manufacturers of INNOVILT products. POSCO Newsroom visited ChungAmEnC to see the INNOVILT Alliance in live action. Join us in the first story of the INNOVILT Alliance Journal.

l ChungAmEnC, POSCO, and the Third Generation Corrugated Steel Plate

ChungAmEnC’s corrugated steel plate factory is located in Chungbuk province, an hour and a half drive away from POSCO Center, Seoul. The factory stood past massive peach tree farms and was easily recognizable for the steel material piled up at the site. Some corrugated steel plates awaiting the next process and other steel material going under testing were laid out neatly in the yard. In the factory, gigantic steel plates were being bent into wave shapes. Where and how were these strong-looking steel used, and what role did POSCO play in the process?

ChungAmEnC was established in September 2014 and is an SME that manufactures and constructs corrugated steel plates in the domestic and overseas construction markets. The company operates several business units in Korea, and the factory in Chungbuk province produces all three types of corrugated steel plates — from the first to the third generation. All of the corrugated steel plate in ChungAmEnC are made of SS315 and SS450, both POSCO high performance hot-rolled steel.

ChungAmEnC and POSCO came together in 2017 to develop the third generation corrugated steel plate. Despite the material having a history of more than 100 years globally, it has been utilized for less than 30 years in Korea. POSCO, which introduced the technology for the first time in Korea, began an R&D project with ChungAmEnC to develop the third generation corrugated steel plate. POSCO’s Kyung-Jo Youn recalls the past cooperation, “It took a year and a half to successfully develop the third generation corrugated steel plate. Now ChungAmEnC is the sole manufacturer of third generation corrugated steel plate in Korea. Its quality has been recognized as well, and the company has been advancing into the global market. Thanks to this, sales at POSCO has also increased. We have become good partners creating new values!”

l NNVOILT Corrugated Steel Plate: How Strong Is It?

What exactly is a corrugated steel plate? Put simply, a corrugated steel plate is a thin, flat steel plate that has been formed into wave shapes to make it stronger. The pitch and depth of the wave-shaped steel plate maximize its strength. How is it different from a regular flat steel plate? Well, the corrugated steel plate can withstand about 50 times more weight than a regular flat steel plate of the same thickness — it’s much stronger. The fact that it can maintain its strength while reducing thickness makes it the most structurally safe and inexpensive construction material in the modern era.

Inside the factory, we could see the manufacturing process of the corrugated steel plates. Rectangular steel plates were put into a gigantic machine to create wavy shapes and curvature. Next, they were sent into a punching machine to pierce bolt holes. Seeing flat sheets of steel turn into wavy sheets and become stronger was more than enough to understand the true charms of steel: strong yet extremely flexible.

l What’s Better? Corrugated Steel Plates or Reinforced Concrete?

ChungAmEnC’s corrugated steel plates can easily be seen in our daily lives. The ‘ecological tunnel’ built by connecting severed roads to prevent road kills of wild animals can be a good example. Another example is the Suseo SRT and Gimpo City Railway’s evacuation routes. The material also boasts excellent protection performance and is applied to defense facilities such as ammunition storehouses, airplane hangars, and protective walls.

Since reinforced concrete is considered the most common construction method in the construction industry, what difference does it have with corrugated steel plates? ChungAmEnC’s CEO Hui-Jun Son answered, “Reinforced concrete is the most familiar construction method. However, this method takes a long period to complete since it requires a multi-step process that includes reinforcement, formwork, and so on. In places with much traffic, it’s really important to minimize users’ inconvenience by reducing the construction period as much as possible. Since corrugated steel plates are fully manufactured according to required specifications, they don’t need any welding or cutting on arriving at the site. All you have to do is assemble them in order, so you just need a few people to complete the construction. As a result, the overall construction period and cost can be reduced by more than 30%.”

But isn’t safety more important than reducing the construction period? Son replied with confidence, “These corrugated steel plates are made with 100 percent POSCO steel. Of course, it is durable. Tunnels made of corrugated steel plates are built and designed with thorough calculations to withstand approximately 100 years. All of this has been verified through a long period of testing with POSCO. Let me take the recent case of Samae 2 Tunnel restoration as an example.”

▲ Samae 2 Tunnel restoration

“The advantage of corrugated steel plates over the traditional reinforced concrete was clearly demonstrated in the restoration of the Samae 2 Tunnel in February. POSCO and We discussed the restoration plan together and suggested using corrugated steel plates as a solution to the Korea Expressway Corporation. The reinforced concrete construction required more than six months, but we thought we could finish it within 1.5 months by applying INNOVILT corrugated steel plate in the construction.
POSCO visited the site day and night and provided technical support. With 15 workers and three cranes, we completed the construction in 6.5 days. The tunnel reopened on March 24, one week ahead of our original plan. It is a good example showing how POSCO and INNOVILT Alliance work together.

Despite its many advantages, many in the construction industry are still conservative about using corrugated steel plates. So what can do the trick? The answer is POSCO’s INNOVILT Alliance. Son remarked, “Whenever I mention that our corrugated steel plate products are certified by POSCO, people look at our products differently. They all go ‘really?’ and look more interested. In fact, when we deliver INNOVILT Alliance products to the site, we put a certification sticker on them. Since the sticker proves that the product has been acknowledged by POSCO, the credibility of our product quality has been enhanced, and this has increased the repurchase rate as well.”

▲ Products with an INNOVILT Alliance certification sticker!

l INNOVILT Corrugated Steel Plate Advancing into the World

As mentioned above, the third generation large corrugated steel plates have been acknowledged in the global market as well. So where exactly are ChungAmEnC’s products used overseas?

Recently, ChungAmEnC’s products are making their way into Australia and South America, where the mining industry is developed. The first task in developing a mine is to build an entry road leading to the mine. Vehicles that carry the mine minerals have wheels taller than an adult and are capable of loading about 670 tons. The perfect material that can withstand this super-sized vehicle is the third generation corrugated steel plate. In January, ChungAmEnC, POSCO, and POSCO International worked in cooperation and succeeded in exporting corrugated steel plates to Australia.

Three additional features make ChungAmEnC’s corrugated steel plates more special. First, ChungAmEnC is able to respond to the needs of its customers by designing and producing various waveform sections. R&D and facility investment made possible the mass production of the third generation corrugated steel plates, and now, ChungAmEnC has registered for two intellectual property rights in North America, Europe, South America, Australia, and Asian countries.

▲ BIM simulates the design and construction process.

The second feature is the BIM (Building Information Modeling)*, a global design trend. In 2019, ChungAmEnC introduced BIM in the corrugated steel plate industry for the first time and has been providing engineering services to overseas customers. With BIM, it is possible to simulate the design and construction process in advance, thereby minimizing errors in planning and estimating production volume. This method is expected to boost productivity as well. * BIM(Building Information Modeling): The process of virtually modeling a facility with 3D shape information as well as other information, including the amount of material needed.

The third feature is a field construction and maintenance technology using 3D Scan Monitoring technology and drones. This technology utilizes the 3D scan camera on a drone to acquire 10 million four-dimensional coordinates per second. It is capable of capturing elaborate information within a much shorter time than conventional manual methods. Since this technology obtains surrounding information as well as monitors the construction process, real-time communication with customers is facilitated, thus preventing various errors that occur during the construction process.

The half-day spent at ChungAmEnC truly demonstrated a trust-based relationship with POSCO. ChungAmEnC was advancing into domestic and overseas markets with the POSCO INNOVILT Alliance title, and POSCO was offering technical support and realizing the ‘With POSCO’ philosophy. This is the true synergy of being an alliance, and both companies will continue to cooperate successfully in the future as well.