Expansion of Cardiac Ultrasound Device Production Facilities
Strengthening Competitiveness in the Advanced Medical Industry
On August 21, Pohang City and Gyeongbuk Province signed a memorandum of understanding for investment worth 21 billion KRW with Siemens Healthineers in the main conference room at Pohang City Hall.
Pohang City and Gyeongbuk Province Sign Investment Agreement Worth 21 Billion KRW with Siemens Healthineers. Photo by Pohang City
The signing ceremony was attended by Mayor Lee Kangdeok, Gyeongbuk Province Vice Governor for Economic Affairs Yang Geumhee, Chair of the Pohang City Council’s Economic and Industrial Committee Lim Juhui, Siemens Healthineers CEO Lee Myungkyun, and about 50 officials from related organizations.
Under this agreement, Siemens Healthineers plans to invest $15 million (approximately 21 billion KRW) from 2026 to 2027 to expand production facilities for cardiac ultrasound medical devices (Transducers and Catheters) on a 9,800-square-meter site within Pohang Technopark.
Once the investment is completed, the annual production capacity for cardiac ultrasound medical devices is expected to increase from 500,000 units to up to 1 million units, and more than 400 new jobs are anticipated to be created.
Since establishing its first factory in Pohang in 2008, Siemens Healthineers has contributed to the development of the advanced medical device industry and provided high-quality local jobs based on its unrivaled technological capabilities.
Due to the delicate nature of the production process, more than half of the 500 employees at the Pohang plant are women, and a significant portion of the new hires resulting from this investment is also expected to be female workers.
The transducer, a core component of cardiac ultrasound medical equipment, utilizes technologies such as wide-band frequency, gesture detection, and single crystal piezoelectric elements to produce clear images and features an innovative design that can flexibly respond to various examination and diagnostic environments.
Additionally, the Intracardiac Echocardiography (ICE) Catheter, equipped with 360-degree imaging, real-time 4D imaging, and color Doppler functions, greatly enhances the accuracy and safety of cardiac procedures by providing a comprehensive assessment of the heart’s structure and overall condition.
Cardiac ultrasound medical devices are non-invasive, high-resolution equipment capable of precise heart diagnostics, and demand for these devices is increasing globally due to population aging and the rise in cardiovascular diseases. With this production expansion stabilizing the supply of medical devices both domestically and internationally, Pohang is expected to take a major step toward becoming a hub city for the advanced medical industry.
Mayor Lee Kangdeok stated, "I deeply appreciate CEO Lee Myungkyun and Siemens Healthineers for deciding to invest despite the global economic downturn and supply chain instability. Based on Pohang’s excellent research infrastructure and administrative support, we will actively help Siemens Healthineers grow into a world-class global company."
Pohang City is pursuing industrial diversification beyond its steel-centered industrial structure into future advanced industries such as secondary batteries, biotechnology, hydrogen, and AI. The city continues its efforts to attract national strategic industries through the designation of Opportunity Development Zones and specialized complexes, as well as by expanding research infrastructure.
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