Daeho AL, a company specializing in aluminum manufacturing led by CEO Kim Youngdae, announced on December 5 that it is accelerating its efforts to secure scandium-an element gaining attention as a core material for future industries-in order to take the lead in the advanced materials market.
On December 4, the company revealed that it had made a strategic investment of 6.5 billion KRW in Carbon Solution to establish a stable supply chain for scandium. This investment goes beyond the preliminary stage of simple technology development, as it proactively secures a supply route for rare metal resources. Through this, Daeho AL aims to lay a solid foundation for the production of high value-added products in the future.
Daeho AL plans to utilize the scandium secured through Carbon Solution for the focused development of aluminum-scandium (Al-Sc) alloy technology, with the goal of introducing next-generation lightweight materials that surpass the performance of existing aluminum products.
Although scandium reserves are extremely limited worldwide, when combined in small amounts with aluminum, it dramatically enhances properties such as strength, corrosion resistance, weldability, and lightness. Thanks to these characteristics, Al-Sc alloys are gaining recognition as an irreplaceable next-generation material in high-performance industries such as aerospace, electric vehicles, defense, and semiconductors.
With this investment as a starting point, Daeho AL will not only secure the stability of its scandium supply chain but also actively pursue the commercialization of Al-Sc alloy products through its own technology development. This is expected to help the company overcome the technical limitations of existing products and accelerate its entry into the high-barrier advanced industrial materials market.
A company representative stated, “This investment in Carbon Solution is Daeho AL’s first step toward securing technological leadership in the future materials market. Through scandium-based alloy technology, we will strengthen product competitiveness and simultaneously establish a foundation for diversified demand and sustainable growth.”
Meanwhile, the industry has evaluated Daeho AL’s recent move as the establishment of a ‘materials-focused future manufacturing strategy.’ Especially since scandium supply is so limited, securing a stable source is considered a key factor for technology development and market entry.
Through its partnership with Carbon Solution, Daeho AL has reduced uncertainties in material procurement and established a solid bridgehead for accelerating product commercialization. Therefore, this investment is seen as more than just an attempt to secure resources; it is regarded as a strategic milestone for Daeho AL to lead a paradigm shift in the aluminum industry and emerge as a future advanced materials company.
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