Sharp Increase in Exports of Ice Makers and Water Purifiers
Korean companies are achieving remarkable success in the U.S. market with "ice." Cheongho Nice, the pioneer that first developed the ice water purifier in 2003, is the main player. The key to their success is attributed to developing products optimized for the local market, where ice consumption is high, based on the technology they have accumulated over the years.
According to Cheongho Nice on the 3rd, the company's exports to the U.S. market have increased significantly this year, reaching the total export amount of last year in the first half alone. Last year, exports to the U.S. market increased by more than 70% compared to the previous year, and this year the growth rate is becoming even steeper.
Cheongho Nice has been exporting related products to the U.S. since 2004, the year after launching its first ice water purifier. The product leading recent achievements is the ice maker capable of water purification (product name Quench 960/965), supplied since last year to Culligan, the largest water purifier company in the U.S., through an Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) method. Considering the active ice maker market in the U.S., Cheongho Nice developed a local ice maker and began sales of this product in August last year. This product has gained great popularity in the U.S. ice maker market, driving export growth this year.
Cheongho Nice analyzed that the product is considered an essential item in office coffee systems (OCS), hotels, and restaurants, and that it secured price competitiveness compared to existing product lines in the U.S. market, which are factors contributing to its popularity. The technology recognized for stable quality based on capacity relative to size also contributed to the increase in exports.
Cheongho Nice, which introduced the world's first ice water purifier "Ice Combo" in July 2003, has since led technological advancements by developing and launching various sizes of stand-type ice water purifiers, wine cellar ice water purifiers, ultra-compact countertop ice water purifiers, coffee ice water purifiers, and carbonated water ice water purifiers. Based on this technological prowess, the company has won the "Korea New Technology Innovation Award" hosted by the Korea Standards Association for 20 consecutive years.
Exports of large-capacity ice water purifier product lines have also increased, and Cheongho Nice plans to expand its product lineup in the U.S. market through collaboration with U.S. water purifier companies including Culligan. The company also plans to expand its market not only in the U.S. but also to neighboring Canada and Latin America. Established in 1993, Cheongho Nice began targeting overseas markets in 1994 and currently exports products to about 40 countries worldwide, including the U.S., Japan, China, and Europe. A Cheongho Nice official said, "Cheongho Nice's technology is recognized not only domestically but globally," adding, "We will strive to widely promote Korea's excellent technology worldwide."
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