PTMEG is an intermediate material used in the manufacture of such high value-added products as spandex, synthetic leathers, coatings and polyurethane elastomers.
Until now, only three countries have had the ability to produce PTMEG: the U.S.A., Germany, and Japan. The 150,000-tonne world market is a duopoly, divided between DUPONT of U.S and BASF of Germany. In 1992 Shinwha PTG Co. Ltd. failed to affect the necessary technology transfer to allow the company to enter the market. Accordingly, Shinwha embarked upon the development of high-yield catalysts on its own.
Trials were conducted with Tetrahydrofuran (THF) produced by its affiliated company, Shinwha Petrochemical Co. Ltd. A pilot plant with an annual capacity of 100 tonnes was built where began the development of procedures and technology to launch a commercial plant. The result was a 10,000-tonne capacity PTMEG plant brought into being entirely by domestic technology. In addition, the plant has strict built-in environmental safeguards which ensure no acidic compounds in waste water is emitted.
Traditional polymerization reactors of the PTMEG production process use strong acids and acid-based catalysts. Thus additional costs were incurred through dealing with acid waste water and all related equipment was required to be corrosion-resistant. Shinwha changed its approach to the problem, developing neutral solid catalysts and applying novel procedures to the commercial production of PTMEG. The technology so developed enabled Shinwha to drastically cut the cost of waste water treatment and the associated facilities. Futhermore, the company employed a continuous polymerization process resulting in an homogeneous standard of product. Also developed through the company's unique technology were an automated high-performance filtration system and a decoloring system.
Shinwha PTG Co. Ltd. produces a high-quality PTMEG, far superior to existing products on the market. Shinwha PTG Co. Ltd. has confidence in the price competitiveness of its product due to stable material supply and the use of its own catalyst and manufacturing procedures.
This year's domestic demand for PTMEG is about 17,000 tonnes, of which Shinwha's new material is expected to replace imports worth some US$40 million. PTMEG demand around the world is estimated to be about two billion tonnes and is on the rise. Shinwha's future in this new venture is thus quite promising.

Shinwha PTG Co,. Ltd.
34-1, Mapo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea
TEL : 82-2-703-7548
FAX : 82-2-703-6816

Bearing plates support high-rise buildings. In construction terminology, a bearing plate may be regarded as a foundation stone which sustains pillars. For example, a 45-story building needs a bearing plate that sustains a steel-frame structure at its foundation, the bearing plate being required to support a weight of up to 7,000 tonnes.
Until now, laminated steel plate of thicknesses more than 60 centimeters has been used for bearing plate to sustain loads of 7,000 tonnes. Steel laminated plates, though, are difficult and expensive to make. However, a ultra high-strength concrete bearing plate has been developed by Hyundai Industrial Development & Construction Co. Ltd. This development means steel can be replaced in bearing plates by concrete. The ultra high-strength concrete developed in 1990 has a strength of 1,200kg per square centimeter, some six times as strong as conventional concrete.
Hyundai Industrial's breakthrough was based on adjusting the ratio of admixtures, silica fume and fly-ash to diminish the void between cement particles in order to enhance the concrete's strength. During the curing process, cracks appeared on the surface of the concrete as its strength increased. To solve this problem, both sides of the bearing plate were covered with mesh made of a double arrangement of bars. Varying the size of the bars from the center, through the surface of the bearing plate prevents cracks caused by surface tension. Afterwards, steam curing at temperatures as low as possible and natural curing were repeated for a month.
Hyundai Industrial Development & Construction Co,. Ltd. installed ultra high-strength concrete bearing plate in the foundation of its headquarters building, which has 45 stories above ground, eight below. The construction period was shortened by six months compared with the method of using steel laminated plate. Moreover, construction costs were only 20 percent of those of the traditional method. The development means it is possible to effect more thorough quality control procedures since concrete bearing plates are installed only after being produced at a precast concrete factory, rather than being formed and cured at the construction site. The new plates have excellent earthquake or lateral force resistance. Excavation is not required so time is saved.
Korea is witnessing the rapid building of high rises in its city centers in order to utilize high-cost land to best advantage. The demand for concrete bearing plate is therefore expected to rise. The use of concrete bearing plate will be expanded to special structures such as those for marine, underground, and atomic power station applications.

Hyundai Industrial Development & Construction Co,. Ltd.
27-8, Chamwon-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea
TEL : 82-2-519-9114
FAX : 82-2-519-9649

As the volume of high precision products increases along with the development of industry, so does the demand for high quality mold steel. This is due to the evolution of high-tech areas such as corrosion-resistant engineering plastics, cathode-ray tubes, optical discs, and optical lenses. Super mirror stainless mold steel manufactured by Korea Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd. (Hanjung) is a high performance mold steel having both super mirror and corrosion-resistance properties. Korea Heavy anticipates the material will rapidly find acceptance across a broad spectrum of high-tech industry.
The types of performance required of steel mold are divided into two categories: performance in the mold machining process; and performance in mold usage. In the manufacture of molds, machinability and mirror-level polishability are required properties, while anti-corrosiveness, wear resistance, a correct rate of heat deformation, and thermal conductivity are required in their utilization of molds. The newly-developed super mirror stainless mold steel is a breakthrough because it possesses all the characteristics required of a mold material. In particular, mirror polishability, heat deformation, and corrosion-resistance have improved tremendously. It is possible to use super mirror stainless mold material continuously for a protracted period. Inserts can be replaced easily, the formation cycle is stable, and there is no gilt-off.
The locally-developed technology of super mirror stainless mold steel has enabled alloy design to be optimized and permitted the development of the refining, forging and heat treatment processes. Cathode-ray tube, CD, optical lens steel molds produced by this technology have increased mirror polishability and decreased heat deformation. The precision of PC monitors, video tape, and steel molds manufactured under high temperatures is enhanced. Meanwhile, resistance against corrosion by gas emitting from polycarbornate molding has been strengthened. In addition, Korea Heavy Industries & Construction Co. Ltd. has curtailed the mold machining process, thus enhancing quality and shortening delivery times.
Hanjung's development of super mirror stainless mold steel has helped the nation become more independent in the field of mold material technology. The introduction of the new material is expected to replace imports worth US$120 million per year and enhance the industry's international competitiveness.

Korea Heavy Industries & Construction Co,. Ltd.
555, Guygok-dong, Changwon, Kyongnam, Korea
TEL : 82-551-78-6114
FAX : 82-551-64-5551

Consumers in different parts of the world have different preferences when it comes to washing machines. The front-loading type is favored in Europe; Asians choose the pulsator type; while Americans feel the agitator type is the best way to get clothes cleanest.
LG Electronics has developed a pulsating, front-loading combination-type washing machine and launched it on the local market where to date mainly pulsator-type washing machines have been sold. The pulsator washing machine uses the force of flowing water generated by the rotation of a central wing (the pulsator) to remove the dirt from clothes. The pulsator type has the merits of a short washing cycle and powerful cleaning strength, while on the other hand, it has the demerits of producing more tangling so increasing the risk of damage to clothes. The pulsator process typically produces different turning powers between the upper and lower parts of the washing tub, resulting in greater tangling because the force of flowing water is reduced as it moves upward.
LG's TONGDORI washing machine has overcome these problems. As opposed to the normal method of washing where the basket remains fixed and only the central wings turn, the basket and the wings in the TONGDORI turn in the opposite direction, producing considerably more washing power. By doing this, mechanical friction power is uniformly delivered to upper and lower parts, reducing the incidence of tangling considerably. Even a big load of washing does not weaken TONGDORI's washing power. If TONGDORI gets bigger load of washing, the turning angle of the washing tub increases, causing a broader friction between the washing tub and the clothes washed. In brief, TONGDORI is a combination of the front-loading and pulsator-types of washing machine. It overcomes the demerits of small capacity and a longer washing cycle in the front loading type, and tangling in the pulsator type.
In commercializing the washing machine, LG Electronics produced a first by developing a unique controlling algorithmic function which ensures the basket and the wings in the TONGDORI turn in the opposite direction. Besides a brake-band fastening system, another accomplishment associated with the machine is a simplified two-step clutch. The result is that with the help of these new technologies electric power, water, detergent, and time can be all saved.
The TONGDORI exhibits enhanced performance in washing power, rinsing power, and less tangling compared with LG washing machines already on the market. LG Electronics have sold 270,000 TONGDORIs in the first half of 1997 despite the current recession. It has enabled LG to take 40 percent of domestic market for washing machines.

LG Electronics
LG twin towers, 20, Yoido-dong, Youngdungpo-gu, Seoul 150-721, Korea
TEL : 82-2-785-3675
FAX : 82-2-782-7107

"Knocking" is the term used to describe the reaction in an engine when fuel burns incompletely because the ignition timing in a cylinder's combustion chamber is off. It is a major reason for the deterioration of engine power and driving comfort. Automakers have concluded the most efficient method of eradicating knocking is through using a sensor to detect the phenomenon.
To this end, Kyungwon Ferrite Industry Co., Ltd. has carried out research jointly in the field of piezoelectric ceramics with the Korea Institution for Science and Technology since 1984. The research team obtained material patents in Japan and Korea, and began producing piezoelectric elements in March of this year. Concurrently, Kyungwon acquired experience in manufacturing a sonar detector for a domestically-built submarine.
The built-in ceramic vibrator of a knocking sensor detects abnormal vibration (knocking) and conveys the information to a electronic control unit (ECU). The piezoelectric element attached to a cylinder block generates a signal immediately vibrations exceed specified limits. The ECU coordinates ignition timing based on the detected signals to protect the engine from knocking.
Piezoelectric elements are also used in the ceramic nebrizers of ultrasonic humidifiers, bolted lagevin transducers, ceramic band-pass filters, microphone parts for cellular telephones besides knocking sensors. Its applications include the detection of the proximity and acceleration of vehicles.
Only Hoechst, Phillips, Siemens and Murata of Japan mass-produce piezoelectric elements for the automotive industry. Kyungwon Ferrite Industry Co., Ltd. succeeded in developing the technology used in the production of piezoelectric elements, previously only available from abroad, to the point of reducing their cost by more than 50 percent. Kyungwon submitted its piezoelectric ceramic vibrator to Bosch of Germany for testing. The company now supplies piezoelectric elements for use in knocking sensors to domestic automakers including Hyundai Motors.

Kyungwon Ferrite Industry Co,. Ltd.
1260-4, Jungwang-dong, Shiheung City, Kyunggi-do, 429-450, Korea
TEL : 82-345-498-3982~6
FAX : 82-345-498-3987

The Hyundai Motor Company has recently developed an on-board refueling vapor recovery system. This system absorbs and restores gasoline vapor (HC ingredient) and burns it, thus preventing air pollution when a vehicle's gas tank is being refilled. Instead of being emitted, gasoline vapor so absorbed and restored is burnt with an air influx once an engine is activated. The system also collects and recycles gasoline ingredients.
Hyundai Motors successfully developed this system through the investment of US$5 million over 40 months. The company established its own overall development system from the design to the test stage. The process satisfies U.S. environmental regulations, a confirmation of its excellence. Fulfilling the requirements of the new Clean Air Act points to Hyundai's heightened technological competitiveness in the American automotive market; the "Avante" and "Tiburon" models utilizing this system will be exported to the U.S. starting 1998.
Innovations such as the dynamic sealing fuel neck, the activated charcoal canister, purge valve/logic, and a fuel leak prevention safety valve/device were applied to development of this system. Recycled fuel saved through this system is estimated to be some four liters per vehicle per year. Considering there are 10 million registered cars in Korea, this represents a national annual saving of гд30 million. Moreover, the pressure sensor in a fuel tank displays a "warning" message on a dashboard if it detects an abnormality such as a gas or fuel leakage in the fuel supply, thus enhancing vehicle safety.
Existing evaporative emission systems control and restore fuel evaporates by sudden changes of temperature inside and outside the tank and control the fuel vapor when it is generated naturally while the vehicle's engine is running. However, these systems cannot control gasoline vapor that is emitted into the air when the gas tank is being refilled. Hyundai's system absorbs and restores gasoline vapor emitted during the refueling procedure itself, and then burning it mixed with a fresh influx of air. The company states that the purification rate of harmful gasoline vapor is 98 percent when refueling. Futhermore, the system offers the safety factor of preventing fuel leakage even in the case of a collision or the vehicle being overturned.

Hyundai Motor Company
140-2, Gae-dong, Jongro-gu, Seoul, Korea
TEL : 82-2-746-1114
FAX : 82-2-741-0470

by Jae-Kwan Kim