Export Achievements Supported by KOSME's 'Export Voucher Program'
Development of Various Research Equipment Based on Glovebox Technology
"We will continue to develop research and development equipment based on glove boxes and vacuum deposition machines for perovskite, solar power, and other fields."
The words of CEO Lee Won-tae encapsulate Goryeo Giyun's goal of "domestic production of research equipment." Founded in 1985 as Yujeon Tongsang, Goryeo Giyun is the company that created the first domestically produced glove box, an essential environment provider for manufacturing advanced materials. Since then, Goryeo Giyun's technology has advanced to the point where Korean-made equipment is used in research sites worldwide beyond Korea.
The core of Goryeo Giyun lies in glove box manufacturing technology. A glove box is equipment that provides an inert environment to handle compounds that react sensitively to moisture or oxygen. It is essential for safely handling materials that pose explosion risks upon exposure to the atmosphere during research on batteries, solar power, and more. Starting with the production of 100 glove boxes in 2004, Goryeo Giyun achieved tenfold growth by reaching a cumulative total of 1,000 units in 2013. On the 21st, CEO Lee said, "Goryeo Giyun custom-designed and manufactured equipment combining glove boxes and vacuum chambers, exporting them to universities in Sydney, Australia, as well as Singapore and the United Kingdom."
As the applications of glove boxes expanded, Goryeo Giyun's technology also extended to other equipment. CEO Lee explained, "Originally developed for the synthesis and research of chemical substances, glove boxes have expanded their use to solar panels, OLED display panels, next-generation battery materials, and nuclear research. Vacuum chamber technology is also required for solar power and battery material research, and we have commercialized equipment combining both technologies."
Glove box technology is also applied to vacuum deposition machines. Vacuum deposition machines perform processes that deposit ultra-thin layers at the nanometer scale on object surfaces. To minimize contamination of the deposited materials, Goryeo Giyun provides an integrated system combining a glove box system that minimizes moisture and oxygen, enabling the deposition of organic and inorganic materials. The glove box technology that protects materials sensitive to oxygen and moisture was also used during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect people from viruses while collecting specimens. CEO Lee said, "We developed a bio glove box, which was previously entirely imported from overseas, and supply it to pharmaceutical and bio companies."
However, expertise in glove boxes also posed a weakness for Goryeo Giyun's overseas market entry. The strong image of glove boxes overshadowed the technological capabilities of other research equipment. In particular, deposition equipment used in industries such as semiconductors, solar cells, and display manufacturing received good evaluations and research results but did not achieve supply levels comparable to glove boxes. Goryeo Giyun was able to resolve this issue with support from the Small and Medium Business Venture Corporation's 'Export Voucher Program.' This program provides support through vouchers funded by government subsidies and company contributions, allowing companies to freely select desired services and executing agencies. Through this program, Goryeo Giyun exhibited equipment at overseas exhibitions in Dubai, the United States, and other locations, enhancing product promotion and directly meeting global demanders. As a result, the company achieved sales exceeding approximately 10 billion KRW, expanding its overseas sales portfolio.
CEO Lee stated, "We plan to steadily expand sales regions this year as well through participation in the Export Voucher Program," adding, "We will do our best to grow into a company that continuously provides equipment aligned with global research trends."
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