[Report] The Secret to the No.1 Food Waste Processor... Visiting SmartKara Yangsan Factory

A view of the Smart Cara Yangsan Factory located in Eogok Local Industrial Complex, Eogok-dong, Yangsan-si, Gyeongnam.

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] On the 23rd, we visited the Smart Cara manufacturing plant located on a 10,900㎡ site in Eogok Industrial Complex, Eogok-dong, Yangsan-si, Gyeongnam. Named 'Eogok' (魚谷), meaning a valley overflowing with fish, this site houses the top domestic food waste disposer manufacturer. With more time spent at home due to COVID-19, food waste disposers have increasingly become essential home appliances. We took a closer look at the manufacturing process of these devices.

12 Years of Food Waste Disposer Production... No.1 Market Share in Korea

Founded in 2009, Smart Cara has held the number one online market share for food waste disposers for three and a half years from 2019 through the first half of this year. Sales surged from 19.4 billion KRW in 2019 to 56.6 billion KRW last year.

Food waste disposers are generally divided into two types: 'dry grinding type,' which dries and grinds food waste, and 'microbial decomposition type,' which decomposes food waste using microorganisms cultivated inside the device. The dry grinding type offers fast processing and easy internal cleaning. The microbial decomposition type has the advantages of low noise and no need for separate waste disposal.

Smart Cara has secured proprietary technology in the dry grinding type food waste disposer segment. Recently, as food waste disposers have gained attention, some domestic home appliance companies have rushed to enter the market by producing products through OEM or ODM in countries like China or Vietnam. However, Smart Cara directly manufactures its products domestically, including mold facilities. This year marks the 12th year since Smart Cara introduced its food waste disposer to the market.

Smart Cara workers are working on the food waste disposer production line.

Smart Cara's Strengths in 'Heater' and 'Motor' Manufacturing Technology

Park Se-sun, the factory manager of Smart Cara whom we met on site, cited the 'heater' and 'motor' as the company's core technologies. The dry grinding type food waste disposer involves two key processes: first drying leftover food with heat, then finely grinding it. The 7th generation food waste disposer 'Smart Cara 400 Pro,' launched in May, features an upgraded 2nd generation Heating Plate technology. This reduced the average drying time from 4 hours to a minimum of 2 hours and 30 minutes.

The motor is the key component in the grinding process. A motor with strong power and durability ensures efficient grinding and extends product lifespan. Factory manager Park said, "Smart Cara uses high-quality motors from its parent company SPG, a precision motor company with 50 years of experience, as core components. Compared to those using low-cost Chinese motors, we have a clear competitive advantage in quality, product lifespan, and after-sales service."

Park Se-sun, Smart Cara Factory Manager.

Recently, food waste disposers have also seen intense technological advancements in odor prevention. When the food waste volume-based fee system was introduced in 2011, food waste disposers briefly gained attention but were later neglected due to odors emanating from the devices. Through long-term R&D, Smart Cara has developed activated carbon filter manufacturing technology that extends filter life while effectively reducing odors. Factory manager Park emphasized, "We have over a decade of know-how on how to design and coat filters to capture odors effectively. We also equipped the exhaust fan, which releases odors, with SPG's motor, known for its excellent power consumption efficiency, minimizing electricity use."

Optimized Production Line... Organic Response to Seasonal Demand

Food waste disposers sell best in summer when food waste odors worsen and insects start to gather. Smart Cara flexibly responds to demand by tripling production during peak seasons compared to normal periods.

Efficient production volume management is thanks to an optimized production line. The Smart Cara production line we observed was neat and streamlined. After Park, who led the parent company's Vietnam branch for nine years, was appointed factory manager in 2020, the production line was extensively reorganized. Park explained, "We simplified the process into a one-stop system from parts loading on the automatic conveyor to the final packaging stage. We also introduced many semi-automatic devices to reduce worker fatigue and prevent musculoskeletal injuries."

The manufacturing process begins by checking for defects in semiconductor components inside the product. It also verifies that no air leaks occur when air is injected into the device. After assembly by workers, a reader tests the device's functionality and wirelessly reports the results. Finished products are moved to the first-floor shipping area after packaging. The shipping area was bustling with activity preparing for nationwide deliveries. Sales team leader Son Dong-sik said, "Despite it being late summer, demand for food waste disposers remains strong as they have become essential appliances for newlyweds and others. We plan to establish sales strategies aligned with this steady annual demand."