'Filter New Technology Treasure Trove'… SK Magic 'Environmental Analysis Center'

Triple Care Dishwasher Air Cure Filter
Self-Developed Direct Water Purifier Composite Filter System

Ryu Kwon-ju, CEO of SK Magic (third from the left), is taking a commemorative photo with researchers and other officials in front of the Environmental Analysis Center at the Hwaseong factory in Gyeonggi.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daeseop] SK Magic's 'Environmental Analysis Center' is playing the role of a treasure trove for new technologies. This year, it has contributed to performance growth by consecutively developing products such as the 'Triple Care Dishwasher Aircure Filter' and the 'Self-Direct Water Purifier Composite Filter System.'

According to SK Magic on the 10th, the Environmental Analysis Center is affiliated under the Technology Development Office within the Home Appliance Research Institute at the Hwaseong Plant in Gyeonggi Province. Its main tasks include water quality analysis, environmental hazardous substance analysis, filter (water and air) material development, and hygiene-related technology development.

The Triple Care Dishwasher Aircure Filter developed by the Environmental Analysis Center focuses not only on washing but also on the importance of storage after washing. It enables the care of dishes inside the dishwasher with clean air filtered through the filter. The company explains that the dishwasher applying the Aircure Filter is the world's first Triple Care Dishwasher.

The Triple Care Dishwasher with the Aircure Filter, launched in January this year, has received positive responses from customers. Thanks to the popularity of Triple Care and the Touch On Plus introduced in June, SK Magic's total dishwasher sales increased by more than 160% compared to the previous year.

Last month, the Environmental Analysis Center showcased its technological prowess with the 'Composite Filter System' through the newly launched Self-Direct Water Purifier. The Self-Direct Water Purifier was developed from the design stage to minimize product width for better kitchen space utilization and to allow convenient filter replacement with non-face-to-face (untact) self-management.

The research and development challenge was to reduce the number of filters from three to two while maintaining filter performance at an equal or higher level. Additionally, the structure had to allow customers to easily replace the filters themselves. The Composite Filter System solved these challenges.

The Environmental Analysis Center plans to develop and introduce air purifier filters with enhanced dust collection performance and functionality in the second half of this year.

SK Magic Hwaseong Factory

The predecessor of the Environmental Analysis Center was the Environmental Technology Research Institute. It changed its name after acquiring the qualification of 'Certified Drinking Water Quality Testing Institution' designated by the Hangang River Basin Environmental Office under the Ministry of Environment in January last year. The Environmental Technology Research Institute was merged into SK Magic's Home Appliance Research Institute in September last year. The Home Appliance Research Institute has more than 80 researchers.

SK Magic is striving in research and development with the goal of providing total care solutions for air quality and water quality in living spaces where people reside.

Through new technology development and new product launches, sales and operating profit increased in the first half of this year. Based on consolidated financial statements for the first half, sales reached 501.6 billion KRW and operating profit was 45.5 billion KRW, up 39.0% and 165.0% respectively compared to the same period last year. SK Magic's sales target for this year is 1 trillion KRW.

The newly introduced Self-Direct Water Purifier this year has received favorable customer responses in line with the spread of untact self-management, and sales growth is expected to continue in the second half of the year.

An SK Magic official said, "There are many tasks to be performed by the Environmental Analysis Center to achieve management goals, and we expect its status to grow further in the future," adding, "We plan to increase research and development personnel in the fields of new materials related to air and water next year."