Doosan Training & Technology Center (DTC) has succeeded in developing a method for mass production of high purity lipids, which are becoming known as a functional raw material for the 21st century. Mass production requires such advanced technologies that only a very few companies have been able to monopolize the world market.

The characteristics of lipid products are as follows: First, their most important requirement is high purity --more than 99 percent. Second, it requires technology which freely changes the molecular structure of the lipid and meets the customers' needs for special usage. That is, it is a kind of high value added product which require high degrees of analysis and purification. The price of the lipid products that Doosan Serdary Research Laboratories (DSRL) had succeeded in developing is around $500 per gram--37 times the price of gold.

As a rule, high purity lipids consist of phospholipids, neutral lipids, sphingolipids, glycolipids, etc. They are used as pharmaceutical raw materials such as for treatment of thrombosis, anti-cancer medicine, senile dementia, and other adult medicines, as well as in the food and cosmetics industries. The reason lipids are thought of as a useful up-to-date material is that they can be used to make liposome, which increases the effects of medicine and can be made from lipids. For example, in case of encapsulating medicine using a liposome, the medicine can selectively act on a specific part of the body--through what is known as a drug delivery system.

Since DTC invested $5 million on the research and development for the mass production method of about 300 kinds of lipid products five years ago, DTC has been developing additional mass production methods for about 100 kinds of lipids. DTC has been marketing under the DSRL brand name.

Doosan Training & Technology Center 39-3, Seongbok-ri, Suji-eup, Yongin-city, Kyunggi-do, Korea Tel : 82-331-260-1260 Fax : 82-331-260-1381

ESO (Epoxidized Soybean Oil) is an expoxidized edible soybean oil which has oxygen added to it, so it isn't toxic. Over 90 percent of its demand is for plasticizers to enhance the efficiency of PVC and for heat stabilizers.

Shindongbang Corp., an oil and fat manufacturing company with a 30-year history, has established an ESO manufacturing facility and developed the technology based on its accumulated soybean oil processing know-how.

Shindongbang is the first oil and fat manufacturing com-pany in the world to run an ESO factory. Shindongbang's ESO is superior to others', with a higher content of oxirane oxygen, which determines the quality of PVC additives. Consumers can discriminate it because of its nice color and high purity. The product does not solidify in the application/production process and has a lower freezing point than competing products.

Shindongbang has come up with the most suitable reaction conditions through laboratory tests and pilot testing while developing the ESO. And they have established a high quality and highly productive semi-continuous manufacturing system. Since ESO is used as an industrial material, the product should be inexpensive as well as high quality if it's going to be a substitute for products already on the market, and Shindongbang delivers in that respect. Its ESO has greater competitiveness in terms of quality and price than competing goods.

ESO is usually used for PVC, artificial leather, plastic wrap, etc. In the case of milking a cow with a PVC tube, the milk will never be contaminated or degenerated. So ESO can replace DOP (Di-Octyl Phthalate) or metal stabilizers. In addition, ESO can also be used as a stabilizer for agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, and adhesives, and as a plasticizer for paint and ink. With wide usage and increasing use of PVC, ESO is replacing petroleum and metallic additives, and finding its place as an environmental friendly product.

Shindongbang now has a facility capable of producing 30,000 tons per year, so they can cope with demand from Asia, North and South America, and Europe.

Shindongbang plans to continue developing non-harmful oil and fat chemical products as well as developing new products processed from ESO.

Shindongbang Corporation 2, Yangpyungdong 4-ga, Yungdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Korea Tel : 82-2-676-9123 Fax : 82-2-675-4961

As we pass through the swift transitional phase toward becoming an information society, hallmarked by the internet, networking, computer communication, and the like, we are confronted with increasing concern about the risks of using electronic media, including infection from computer viruses. The computer virus is being conceived as a dangerous instrument, and could possibly even be used to paralyze the information system of the enemy in a future cyber-war.

Dr. Ahn's Anti-Virus Laboratory Co., Ltd. was established in March of 1995 to systematically respond to the proliferating viruses. It transformed its well-known vaccine, made public even before the opening of the laboratory, into shareware domain under the name of "V3+." The company continuously updated V3+, while it brought the integrated version of the vaccine "V3Pro 95" to market, which can be applied to all the operating systems currently in fashion: DOS, Windows 3.1 and Windows95. This V3Pro 95, simultaneously developed with the advent of Windows95, fulfills the most current needs of computer users.

As Windows95 is equipped with a DOS mode for compatibility with DOS applications, most viruses resident in DOS applications can wreak havoc in Windows95 as well. The V3Pro 95 can not only treat the DOS viruses in Windows 3.1 and Windows95, but also recently located a new version of a virus exclusively targeted at Windows95 and a series of viruses that may be developed in the future. It is designed with the future in mind, foreseeing many expected needs. Furthermore, as the 32-byte virus scan and disinfect engine was programmed with a high-level language, it can swiftly adapt itself to the changes of the operating systems. Therefore, it is possible to significantly shorten the void period in the development of new anti-virus vaccines, which will be indispensible to treat viruses in new operating systems such as Windows97 and NT.

V3Pro 95 also provides a network scan function for the client-server LAN environment. It is receiving positive reviews for its stability--almost perfect scanning capability without diagnostic errors and the capability of recovering infected files to their original state. And its rapid scan/disinfect speed makes it possible for workers with computers of large hard disk capacity or in a LAN environment to carry out their jobs more efficiently. Accordingly, it can be more conveniently applied by workers in corporations or public organizations, where systematic and water-tight measures for virus protection are required.

The vaccine is designed to improve the scan/disinfect function, based on its GUI (graphic user interface) environment. One can easily scan viruses by simply clicking the icon for "scan" on the window in the user-friendly GUI environment of the V3Pro 95, and ascertain the results of scanning. As the interface of this vaccine is designed to adopt the unique functions of Windows95 such as folder concepts, drag and drop, and waste box scan, it has become more user-friendly.

On the other hand, it also provides for multi-tasking, a convenient menu for options which enables users to scan by selecting options and objects, a function for diverse virus information output based on the in-depth research/analysis unique to Dr. Ahn's Anti-Virus Laboratory, creation of activity log files on scanning records, and file back-up function before disinfect.

When we briefly review the overall market situation of anti-virus vaccines, overseas as well as domestically, we discover that the Asian market is dominated by the Korean branch of Trend Micro Device Inc., while the American and European markets are dominated by Mcafee Association.

Nevertheless, Dr. Ahn's Anti-Virus Laboratory controls 95 percent of the Korean market, and it is estimated that the import substitution of an annual $13 million for anti-virus vaccines will be made possible through the development of the V3Pro 95. This laboratory is slated to develop anti-virus vaccines for internet servers and web browsers in early 1997.

Dr. Ahn's Anti-Virus Laboratory Co., Ltd. 203 Hanpan Bldg., 1552-13 Seocho-dong, Seocho-ku, Seoul 137-073, Korea Tel : 82-2-525-2141 Fax : 82-2-525-2165

Samsung Aerospace Industries Ltd. has become only the third company in the world to develop a 240-pin stamping lead frame through its own technology of design and process.

A 240-pin lead frame is used for ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), which is essential to all futuristic high-tech goods. So the 240-pin lead frame is mandatory for making small and thin electronic goods, and maximizing semiconductor accumulation.

Until now these frames were produced by etching, which is not efficient for commercial production. But it is now possible to manufacture the pin by stamping. Samsung will soon be mass producing the frames and expects strong price competitiveness. The inner lead pitch of a 240-pin stamping lead frame is 196§­. This frame can be produced with technology for making a 200§­ inner lead pitch, which is considered the most advanced technology in the world. And the width of the punched part is 98§­,which is smaller than the thickness of a hair. So the product has overcome the 100§­ barrier.

Samsung has proven its manufacturing technology as first class by producing this frame on the heels of its 208-pin stamping lead frame in 1994. This product has special meaning since all techniques applied were developed in-house and utilize the highest of technologies. Samsung used an advanced manufacturing method of CAE (Computer Aided Engineering), which designs programs and analyzes problems with a computer simulation automatically.

Samsung has obtained the technology for making a 300 or more pin stamping lead frame, which is considered the limit of existing technology. And they have taken the upper hand in the keenly competitive lead frame market which is expected to heat up soon.

Samsung Aerospace Industries, Ltd. 14th Fl., Samsung Life Insurance Bldg. 142-43, Samsung-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea Tel : 82-2-528-6939 Fax : 82-2-528-6667

CFCs, in the form of freon gas, are widely used as a refrigerant, foaming material, injection material, or washing material. CFCs were found to present no direct harm to people and was a noncombustible compound when it was discovered in 1928 and long considered the perfect material. But CFCs became known as a destroyer of ozone, so it is being prohibited from use or has been strictly regulated by international law and pressure.

A new refrigerant, "HFC 134-a," is now being used as an alternative to CFCs. HFC 134-a has similar properties to CFC 12, which has been mainly used in car air conditioners or refrigerators, but does not destroy ozone. Therefore there is no harm when HFC 134-a leaks out, and a recharging system can be implemented.

Today car makers can't use CFC12, so they are substituting HFC 134-a systems. With this change from CFC12 to HFC 134-a, it has actually become easier to repair and maintain the car's air conditioner and does not harm the environment. In this new system, one of the most important parts is a charge valve for the refrigerant, but thus far that particular valve has only been produced in some developed auto producing countries.

The charge valve acts as a check valve to control the amount of refrigerant to be injected by adjusting the pressure of a compressor which circulates the refrigerant. So the valve needs to be completely airtight and durable.

Dongil Machinery Company, Ltd. has developed the valve by dramatically improving airtightness, durability, and operation efficiency.

They doubled the airtightness and leak prevention by adding a metal seal to complement the rubber o-ring. O-ring compression has thus been enhanced from 25.5 to 29.03 percent. With this double cutoff system, as the refrigerant is prevented from direct contact with the o-ring, the airtight property is improved. In addition to this, they use high-NBR for all rubber parts to further improve the property.

And to improve operating efficiency, Dongil places a guide on the inside of the cap. With this guide, a worker can perform perfect installation in one motion without any fumbling.

Now used by three Korean car makers, this product has been well received. The product commands a share of over 70 percent of the Korean market, and is now being exported to Thailand. The rest of the world will soon find out about it, however, based on its good reputation for quality and price. Dongil is expecting that demand for use in home electronic goods will also grow.

Dong Il Machinery Co., Ltd. 253-38, Kochun-dong, Euiwang-city, Kyunggi-do, Korea Tel : 82-343-51-3864 Fax : 82-343-53-0040

Stainless steel is best known for is anti-rust quality. But that quality tends to break down in harsh environments like in and around the ocean, where stainless steel can't sustain its corrosion resistance. To help eliminate that problem, Kometech has developed a super stainless steel, SR-50A, with dramatically improved corrosion resistance.

The passive film of SR-50A is strengthened by a synergistic effect attributed to elements including more than 6 percent Mo (Molybdenum) and high nitrogen. Its corrosion resistance in seawater is enhanced 100 times over that of regular stainless steel 316, and 1,000 times over cupronickel.

This product can act as a substitute for traditional expensive nickel-based alloys or titanium in places where corrosion occurs most severely such as in a power plant, an FGD (Flue Gas Desulfurization) system, a chemical industry plant, refuse incinerator, or in the sea.

Using Ti (Titanium) for cooled heat exchange presents some problems in hydrogen-induced brittleness, corrosion fatigue from flow-induced vibration, low resistance to steam erosion, and welding. And nickel-based alloys like Inconel 625 is more than 40 percent more costly, but is less functional. In light of SR-50A's merits, the life span of a facility can be prolonged by two times or semi-permanently, and it is easier to operate facilities due to a decrease in maintenance and repair. It directly influences profit by cutting costs.

According to the results of a test conducted by the ASTM G48 (American Society for Testing and Materials) on similar products such as UR B26 from Creusot-Loire Industries in France, 25-6MO from INCO Alloys International and AL-6XN of Allegheny Ludlum Corpor-ation in the U.S., and 254SMO of Avesta-Sheffield AB, their CCT (Critical Crevice Temperature) is 30-50¡Éand CPT (Critical Pitting Temperature) is 50-70¡É. But the same tests of SR-50A show CCT at 50-70¡É and CPT at 70-90¡É. Through this test, SR-50A is proven to have twice the corrosion resistance of competitors. And it has excellent mechanical properties with better tensile strength and yield strength by 20-40 MPa and improves elongation by more than 40 percent. With an impact value at -196¡É being 150 J/§², this product can replace inconel and monel.

SR-50A is registered as UNS S 32050 at ASTM-SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers), a first for an Asian-developed material. The technical know-how has been transferred to Creusot-Loire Industries (producing plate) in France and INCO Alloys International (producing cold coil) in the U.S. They have both evaluated this product as economical and an with ideal composition ratio of alloying elements. The technology is also being applied to make tubes and casting products in Korea.

Kometech Industry 401 Oh-sung B/D, 13-5 Yoido-dong, Youngdeungpo-ku, Seoul, Korea Tel : 82-2-783-2405 Fax : 82-2-783-2406

Demand for hot dip galvanized steel, a high value-added surface treated product, is increasing steadily in parallel with economic and industrial growth. In accordance with this growth in demand, steel manufacturers have been investing heavily in R&D to satisfy the demands of their customers for high quality, high-end products. The increasing demand for hot dip galvanized steel by car makers and household electronic goods makers has particularly incited steep competition among steel makers to gain the upper hand with high quality.

Actually the technology currently in use for producing hot dip galvanized steel was introduced in the 1960s. And with that technology, it is impossible to control coating thickness for a size change, results in deformation of steel strip, or can simply cause coating thickness deviation. In short, it is an obstacle to improving quality.

Abandoning the old ideas about using a fixed air knife system, the Research Institute of Science and Technology (RIST) recognized the need for a new facility and new processing technology, and succeeded in developing the DAK (Dynamic Control Air Knife) system from design concept to a production system and practical application on the line. The DAK system has adopted an air knife nozzle with multizone variable lip profiles to control coating thickness, and a mathematical model to fully automate the processing based on aerodynamic theory. RIST and POSCO CGL (Continuous Galvanizing Line) completed the system and tested it on a manufacturing line. Together they proved its excellence in controlling coating thickness and minimizing coating thickness deviation and succeeded in putting it on the market.

The DAK system is on-line at POSCO CGL and has decreased the coating thickness deviation by more than 50 percent (from 11.0 g/§³ to under 4.8 g/§³). The system controls the lip gap of the air jet nozzle on line, so it can automatically control coating thickness in transverse direction as well as in longitudinal direction.

POSCO CGL has yielded a profit of $470,000 by cutting costs, and Gwangyang CGL is expected to make $3 million in profits once they adopt this system. It is being exported worldwide by the French company CLECIM, and a Mexican steel works, IMSA, is adopting this system as well.

RIST (Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology) #32, Hyoja-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang-city, Kyungbuk, Korea Tel : 82-562-279-6271 Fax : 82-562-279-6099

Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology has developed a new method for delivering medicine safely to an organ without being damaged or degenerated, and without injuring other organs. And the minute medicine capsules delivered through this method have the effect of bursting automatically upon reaching the destination organ, the medicine sticks to the inner wall of the organ and the delivery system dramatically prolongs the time it stays there.

The durability in the organ is achieved by encapsulating the medicine in an ultra-micro size. The process is done by mixing medicine into edible oil and forming fine oil emulsions. Therefore there is no damage to the stomach with this epoch-making oral DDS (Drug Delivery System).

There are two features under development at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology. One is biomaterials--encapsulizing medicine. They have obtained two patents for new materials in the U.S.A., and have have applications pending in six developed countries.

The other is the technology for making microspheres containing drugs in aqueous solution. This is possible by forming a very thin tapetum around a drop of liquid drug momentarily. The diameter of this drug capsule can be 2 microns (2/1,000 mm). They can produce any size over 2 microns for this purpose. This process of making microsphere capsules is under patent application in seven developed countries.

There are two other companies currently developing a similar technology. They are the American companies, Liposome and Elan. Their methods use a different emulsion or liposome technology, but they haven't solved the problem of the drug being damaged or degenerated while passing through the stomach and can't be produced in a safe form to be stored for a long time.

The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology has solved this problem perfectly using special biomaterials and a method of making the microsphere capsules which is different than the American companies. This technology will be best used for drugs which are difficult to administer orally and for protein drugs which are in the limelight as the next generation medicine.

Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology P.O. Box 107, Yusong, Taejon, 305-606, Korea Tel : 82-42-860-7114 Fax: 82-42-861-7022

Korea-U.S. TechPlaza, a kind of technomart where suppliers of technology and buyers meet for technological transactions, was born of an agreement between the governments of Korea and the U.S.A. to promote technological cooperation between the enterprises of both countries. It has become an annual event, since 1994 when KOTRA successfully organized the first "Korea-U.S. TechPlaza" in Silicon Valley. The third TechPlaza was recently held in New York during the period 15-18 October, 1996. The match-making event is focused primarily on providing opportunities for technological cooperation between enterprises from both countries, by organizing a variety of activities such as a seminar on comparative aspects of technological policies in both countries, the introduction of systems related to technology exchange, presentations from each participating company on the firm and its interests in terms of technological cooperation, and one-on-one meetings for technological cooperation.

KOTRA decides on the eligibility of applicants in both countries to take part in the event according to their fields of specialization, which should be in line with the comparatively strong technological fields of the local region in the U.S.A.: At the first TechPlaza held in Silicon Valley, California, computers, software and multimedia were among the chosen fields for technological cooperation. The second TechPlaza in Chicago showcased automobiles, machinery, electric/electronics and medical equipment, while the third TechPlaza in New York encompassed measuring instruments, telecommunications, environment technology and advanced materials.

The third TechPlaza received very positive reviews from both sides, and the experience and knowhow gained through staging these events are expected to contribute greatly to the success of future TechPlazas. The highly-anticipated fourth TechPlaza in 1997 is slated to be held in Los Angeles.

Over the three consecutive Korea-U.S. TechPlazas, a total of 94 enterprises from Korea and 414 from the U.S.A. took part in one-on-one meetings for technological cooperation, and a significant number of tangible technological exchanges between the two countries materialized. At TechPlaza '94 in Silicon Valley, a one-on-one talk between Samsung Information Systems and Jazz Multimedia resulted in a $1 million joint venture concerning multimedia software technology related to the improvement of resolution and processing speed.

At TechPlaza '96, many lively one-on-one negotiations between participants led to a total of 85 cases of preliminary agreements in technology transfers, joint ventures, technological cooperation and exports to the U.S.A. To specifically mention two examples, negotiations for transfer of technology related to air pollution prevention are being carried out between Cheil Industrial Co., Ltd. and Emtrol Corp., while Chung Ang General Machinery Co., Ltd. and Aqualytics Daniel Bar are talking about joint marketing in Korea and third country markets by jointly producing recycling equipment for the treatment of industrially polluted water.

The Korea-U.S. TechPlaza is financed by the Korea-U.S. Foundation for Industry and Technology Cooperation (KUFIT), and the foundation, in turn, seeks to raise the requisite funds for future Korea-U.S. TechPlazas in concert with the Korean government and business circles.

by Bae-Woo Lee