▲ Han Nam-jun

(PowerKorea) The approximate number of the infected has surpassed 170 million since the breakout of COVID-19. The vaccination is being processed in speed among advanced nations but many developing nations are still experiencing an increase in number of the infected. In fact, virus has lived with us since the first appearance of the living organism on earth and the breakout has occurred time to time. In this respect, we all are responsible for not learning a lesson and for lack of preparation and action. 

South Korea’s measures and actions against the pandemic have received a global recognition thanks to the experience built on the MERS and the people’s proactive cooperation. The credit also must go to many small and medium companies that have shown excellence in accumulated technique, steadfastness and prompt actions despite its relatively harsh business environment compared to big shots. And it is the manifestation of this hardship of small and medium companies that the Korea Prevention Into the World (KPIW) has set sail. 

▲ 한도홀딩스 내부

KPIW is an export platform for SMEs producing and supplying quarantine equipment and goods. The platform updates the goods in real time, provides information, and distributes the goods through efficient logistics systems. 

“KPIW is the Korea’s first K-Quarantine export platform and its distribution network embraces both existing and new logistics and distribution solutions for easy and convenient and efficient marketing and trade with the world” says Han Nam-jun, CEO of KPIW and of Hando Holdings. 

Industry officials voice together that many mask makers in South Korea are facing a bankrupt as increasing number of them are having difficulty to receive payment. It is also problematic that their masks are released on the market at dumping price which is cheaper than the production cost. This naturally is leading to poor quality and thus the vicious cycle rolls on. As a solution, KPIW runs real time screen check-up for buyers overseas to see the manufacturing process and quality. 

KPIW not only finds and promotes competitive SMEs but matches a company with a respective buyer in speed. Han points out that it is very important a company must prove substantiality of manufacturing facility as well as good quality and sound finance. Otherwise, he emphasizes, the member SMEs and the KPIW will lose its trust. Some of the competitive SMEs of KPIW are: Toray, Vision Scientific, Tae Sung, SSI, MK Partners, FCFactory, Solirex, Selim Tex, BSR Korea and JiT.  

▲ MOU체결

KPIW makes the most of social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook alongside its own platform as tools to promote the products of its member companies. Han says that numerous deals have been made through social media and one time or other KPIW also donated free quarantine equipment to countries in need through social media communications. 

▲ MOU체결

KPIW invites member companies to its product designing and planning in order to maximize synergy and markatability that covers from naming of the product to  appealing packaging. The specialists of KPIW always makes themselves vigilant in case a large quantity of order comes in regardless time and date and respond and proceed the process promptly. Following is some of the worth notable SMEs of KPIW:

▲ Jeong Jin-wook

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Tae Sung / CEO Kim Dong-un

Low-pressured high quality filter for KF94

Tae Sung is a felt maker located in Chilgok County, North Gyeongsang Province. It runs its own online felt shopping mall ww.ktaesung.co.kr that sells everything about felt from industrial to home-use and hygiene-purpose. The company is producing and supplying a large quantity of melt-blown filter for KF94, KF80 and dental masks. The manufacturing machine is its own development and it is the longest 40 meter machine in the nation. This in-line processer covers from spinning to winding without the intermediate process. It produces average 2 tons of high quality mask filters a day and 60 tons a month. These high quality mask filters show more than 97% of dust collection rate and is made into 20/50/30/35/40g of KF94 masks. An official of the company says that the additional facility would increase the production to 150 tons a month and the company was expecting to increase export volume as the demand is soaring in Europe and North America. 
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Solirex / CEO Lee Jeong-sung

Everything about firefighting equipment in high quality and strong performance

Solirex is a firefighting equipment company making and supplying products for prevention, emergency, leakage, shower, laboratory room, musculoskeletal guard, cooling vest, personal cooling system, dustproof mask, gas mask, protection suit and quarantine suit. Fire shield, the flagship product of the company, is listed in the Public Procurement Service for wide application to almost all electricity related industries. One off installation creates more than a fire extinguisher as it lets the user to act fast when in emergency. Its automated spraying nozzle system cuts off possibility of fire breakout at first hand and can be installed in blind spots and it has a short residual time. The company obtained a patent for this product and a FKI certificate. It is being installed in the Facilities Corporation, Seoul Air Base, Hyundai Mobis and SK Hynix. Also notable is the cool head pack. It is used in the cap and the coolness lasts up to 3 hours depending on the temperature and the environment of the workplace. The pack has excellent moisture absorption and waterproof. Other notable products include eco-cooling care head cool and eco-cooling care neck band. 
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Selim Tex / CEO Kim Sung-il

Selim Tex’s eco-friendly fashion mask goes global

Selim Tex is a fashion mask company that uses the hot melting method to process the fabric used for the front and the rear of the mask. All fabrics used at Selim Tex are applied with antibacterial treatment which is harmless to our body. The company introduced its most famous functional fashion mask March last year and created a fair amount of attention. 120,000 masks were made on the order of the Korea Federation of Textile Industries. Also supplied was to public institutions in Gyeonggi Province while another supply was made to a Swiss KT-Boutizue through ODM (Original Design Manufacturer). To maximize seasonal usability, Selim Tex uses collmax ecomade yarn for the summer with excellent ventilation function and themolite ecomdade for the winter with a feel of warmness and comfort. All masks made at Selim Tex are biodegradable which attract a great attention from environment-conscious buyers. The company started supplying its innovative mask to Vreata Kr in August 2020 and the US Muveen from September 2020. Most recently, the company introduced an eco-friendly multi-functional mask by using coolmax ecomade and through PCM processing method. 
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Vision Scientific / Chairman Yoon Gyeong-ju

South Korean leader of centrifuge ambitious to take over global market

Vision Scientific started as Manhattan Company in 1982 and turned to its current name in 1987. The company has built well-recognized presence in medical equipment and physio-chemical appliances and pushed up the sales in steady pace. The core products include centrifuge, Co2 incubator, refrigerator, drying oven, clean bench, shaker & mixer, dry block heater, water bath, ice maker, temp & humi chamber, growth chamber, sterilizer, freezer, high pressure cell and order made product. Vision Scientific is received excellent among industry specialists for localizing the then imported equipment. The company now is exporting the products to 40 countries in the world. The super high speed centrifuge developed by Vision Scientific in particular is the 5th achievement in the world and the company has obtained more than 20 patents as well as GMP, ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO13485 and won the Excellent Patent Awards 2016. 
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BSR Korea / CEO Baek Seung-rak

BSR Korea channels excellent products of Korean SMEs to the world

BSR Korea is a trade consulting firm providing services of overseas procurement and global marketing, technical commercialization and accelerating for government institutions and SMEs. The company has built an efficient global network and strategic partnership with many clients by using the most of its near 20 years of experience in the field. Since the establishment in 2005, BSR Korea has taken numerous projects and signed numerous MOUs from and with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Chungnam Techno Park, Korean Venture Business Women’s Association and Jeju Bio Industry Center. Since 2011, the company opened local subsidiary starting from Jakarta Indonesia, Washington, D.C. US, Chongqing and Guangzhou China and Hanoi Vietnam. BSR Korea CEO Baek Seung-rak says that the job of BSR Korea is to find competitive South Korean SMEs to promote overseas by using the excellent knowhow and experience as well as the comprehensive marketing platforms of the company. 

신태섭 기자  tss79@naver.com