Securing exclusive technology for ‘automobile piston hot forging’

Hyundai-Kia Motors Acquires Quality Certification, 'Growth Foundation'

Exports to the US and other countries through continuous research and development

Sewon Metal Co., Ltd. (CEO Lee Jeong-hee), located in Jucheon-myeon, Gimhae-si, is a hot forging company that produces and supplies hot forged steel piston products for automobiles and heavy equipment to both domestic and international markets through accumulated technology development over many years.

Hot forging is a plastic processing method that heats steel to a high temperature of over 1200 degrees to create a large deformation with a small force, making it easy to shape.

After being established in 1995, the company laid the foundation for developing into an automotive parts hot forging company by obtaining Hyundai-Kia Motors SQ-Mark quality certification in 2003, and then brought about a groundbreaking change in 2013 by developing engine steel piston molding technology for passenger cars (diesel SUVs).

The key to implementing a high-horsepower engine is that the steel piston must maintain durability at high combustion pressure. This overcomes the shortcomings of the existing piston manufacturing methods, such as casting steel and aluminum gravity casting, which cannot achieve high RPM (5000 RPM) and high horsepower.

This is the result of continuous research and development to secure new growth, which has brought visible results, as a result of the company's own efforts, including the 'hot forging method' patented in 2008. The company invests approximately 3.5% of its sales in R&D every year.

In 2004, the company received a proposal for the development of engine piston hot forging from Federal Mogul, a global American piston assembly manufacturer, and succeeded in developing the technology by investing 500 million won over 4 years through purely in-house research and development. Products produced using engine steel piston molding technology were recognized for their fuel efficiency and economic feasibility, and in 2014, they were all exported to Federal Mogul, emerging as the company's main product accounting for more than 50% of sales. In addition, it brought about the effect of exporting more than 60% of total sales. In 2015, the company began the development and mass production of heavy duty (commercial vehicle and transportation equipment) steel pistons, and is currently developing the Wave Bowl Crown composite precision forged product, an eco-friendly EURO-7 diesel engine component.

The company produces engine parts such as connecting rods, gears, spindle plates, end rods, yokes, and tie rods in addition to engine pistons for automobiles (including those for transport equipment). Aside from exports, Hyundai and Kia Motors are its main customers.

As exports were booming, in 2016, the company carried out the 'Robot System Process Optimization Project' as the second year project of the global powerhouse company to improve the production process, and recorded visible results in productivity and quality improvement. Currently, the company is developing a process optimization system for quality and cost structure improvement and introducing an ERP system to build a smart factory and improve the work environment. In the future, the company plans to focus on making the factory smart and secure price competitiveness to further outstrip Chinese and Vietnamese companies.

The company is currently expanding its factory in Jinrye Techno Valley, Gimhae, to specialize in and mass-produce hot-forged piston products for passenger car-class diesel vehicles.

Here, LVD-steel pistons, which are eco-friendly passenger vehicle parts, will be produced using an automated system and supplied to global engine manufacturers.

Through this, the company plans to be reborn as a specialized company in hot-rolled precision thin-walled forged steel pistons for vehicles. In 2017, sales increased by 29% year-on-year to KRW 53.2 billion (KRW 33.7 billion in exports and KRW 19.5 billion in domestic sales).

CEO Lee Jeong-hee said, “If the plan currently being promoted proceeds without a hitch, we expect to secure a 60% share of the global steel piston hot forming market by 2020, as well as sales of 100 billion won and exports of over 70 billion won.” Article and photos = Reporter Lee Myeong-yong

Source: https://www.knnews.co.kr/news/articleView.php?idxno=1236965