[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 18th, President Moon Jae-in visited a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) producing low dead space (LDS) vaccine syringes to inspect the production site and encouraged the businesspeople, saying, "Following diagnostic kits, we have once again demonstrated the excellence of K-quarantine." He also expressed his intention to actively support SME innovation.
The Blue House announced that in the afternoon, President Moon visited 'Punglim Pharmatech,' an SME located in the Gunsan Free Trade Zone in Gunsan City, Jeonbuk Province, inspected the LDS vaccine syringe production site, and listened to the requests of the businesspeople.
The LDS vaccine syringe minimizes the space between the piston and the needle. While a regular syringe can inject up to five doses per vial of the COVID-19 vaccine, the LDS syringe can inject six or more doses, effectively increasing vaccine production by 20%. The LDS syringes produced by Punglim Pharmatech, which President Moon visited, received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this month, and there have been overwhelming bulk purchase requests from the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East.
At the on-site visit event, suppliers of LDS syringes necessary for nationwide COVID-19 vaccination, including representatives from Punglim Pharmatech, Shinayanghaeng, and Duwon Meditech, also attended.
Additionally, representatives from Samsung Electronics Smart Factory Support Center, which supports the efficiency of vaccine syringe production processes, were present. Punglim Pharmatech’s factory is one of the cases supported through the government-sponsored 'Large-Small Win-Win Smart Factory Construction Project,' where large and small enterprises collaborate to build smart factories. With the recognition of innovative technology by Samsung Electronics and government assistance, the time required from prototype production to mass production, which usually takes at least one year, was reduced to one month.
On the day, President Moon inspected the LDS vaccine syringe production process, received a report on support plans for vaccine syringe manufacturers from the Minister of SMEs and Startups and the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and held a meeting with representatives from Punglim Pharmatech, Shinayanghaeng, and Duwon Meditech to listen to their requests.
President Moon said, "Ahead of the COVID-19 vaccination starting next week, I am very pleased to inform the public about the importance of syringes, an essential item for vaccination, and the excellence of our products," adding, "All three companies will greatly contribute to overcoming COVID-19 worldwide by supplying LDS syringes to many countries."
President Moon praised, "(The three companies) have once again demonstrated the excellence of K-quarantine following diagnostic kits," calling it "a truly remarkable achievement."
He also mentioned that behind the innovative achievements of the three companies lies a win-win cooperation between large enterprises and the government. President Moon said, "Samsung anticipated the increasing demand for LDS syringes early on and recognized Punglim Pharmatech’s technological capabilities, providing comprehensive cooperation such as automating the production line and supporting mold technology," and added, "The government also selected them for the Large-Small Win-Win Smart Factory Support Project, providing funds for smart factory construction and shortening product approval times."
He continued, "Going forward, the government will actively support the innovation of our SMEs through smart factory support, designation of new regulatory free zones, and establishment of innovative procurement systems," expressing confidence that "the vaccination campaign starting on the 26th will surely be a success."
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