Airain, the only domestic company specializing in gas separation membrane solutions, announced on July 1 that its board of directors has decided to acquire the SK IET Cheongju plant. The announcement was made by CEO Ha Sungyong.
The newly acquired plant covers a land area and total floor space of approximately 16,000 square meters. It features ample space not only for relocating existing production facilities but also for potential future expansions. The down payment for the acquisition, amounting to 4.8 billion KRW, was paid on this day, and the remaining balance of 11.2 billion KRW is scheduled to be paid on August 22.
This acquisition is a strategic measure to proactively respond to the rapidly increasing demand for gas separation membrane modules and to establish a facility base for mid- to long-term growth.
Airain decided to secure a new plant in order to improve production efficiency and supply flexibility, as the operation rate of Cheongju Plant 1, acquired last year, has reached 95% and is expected to soon hit its production capacity limit. The new plant is structured and sized to accommodate production line expansion and the introduction of hollow fiber facilities, making it a key infrastructure for future increases in production capacity.
Full-scale operation of the plant is scheduled to begin in February 2026 after approximately five months of renovation. Initially, production equipment from Cheongju Plant 1 will be relocated, followed by the addition of hollow fiber production lines. This will establish a foundation for producing more than 40,000 modules annually, with the plant designed to expand capacity up to 80,000 units per year depending on demand.
Recently, the global gas separation membrane market has been experiencing rapid growth due to the trend toward carbon neutrality and the expansion of the hydrogen economy. In particular, demand is surging in eco-friendly industries such as carbon dioxide capture (CCUS), natural gas purification, and hydrogen separation, leading to a continuous increase in demand for related equipment and modules. Airain has been supplying nitrogen and carbon dioxide separation solutions to domestic and overseas plants and industrial sites to keep pace with these market trends. The company is also applying CO₂ reduction and recovery technologies to actual projects in collaboration with organizations such as Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power.
Especially in the CCUS sector, large-scale demonstration projects led by the government and major public institutions are actively underway, and related demand is expected to continue expanding. Through the acquisition of this new plant, Airain has secured a production infrastructure that will allow it to respond more swiftly to surging market demand. In the mid- to long-term, the company also expects to further strengthen its ability to provide customized solutions to customers.
Ha Sungyong, CEO of Airain, stated, "This plant acquisition is a strategic investment aimed at proactively responding to the rapidly growing gas separation membrane market, going beyond simple facility expansion. From 2026, production capacity will increase by more than 50% compared to 2025, ensuring stable supply for our clients and improving profitability." He added, "We will also actively expand our global supply chain based on technological internalization and production flexibility."
Meanwhile, Airain has strengthened its technological and manufacturing competitiveness centered on high-value-added gas separation solutions. In the first quarter of this year, the company achieved record-high quarterly results, with sales, operating profit, and net profit increasing by 58%, 604%, and 106%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.
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