[Interview Article] 3M Korea offers cutting-edge solutions for EV battery, chip companies
3M
Korea offers cutting-edge solutions for EV battery, chip companies
By Baek Byung-yeul,
The Korea Times - 3M is positioning itself as a pivotal player in the Korean
market where its customers are taking a lead in the rapidly advancing electric
vehicle (EV) battery and semiconductor manufacturing markets, according to Lee
Jung-han, managing director of the U.S. manufacturing company’s Korean unit. The company is
focusing its efforts on optimizing battery performance and enhancing the
efficiency of semiconductor processes, demonstrating its commitment to
innovation and sustainability in these critical industries, the managing
director said. "Korea is
rapidly growing as a market leader in the electric vehicle battery sector on
the global stage. Accordingly, various sectors such as new businesses,
products, and technologies introduced by 3M Korea are focusing on
batteries," Lee said during an interview with The Korea Times, June 4. "The most
important issue for EV makers is battery optimization and effectively
increasing the driving range per kilowatt-hour (kWh). 3M offers a variety of
solutions related to battery optimization, including thermal management,
thermal runaway prevention and electrical insulation." He mentioned that 3M
contributes to enabling Korean clients to create competitive products through
solutions like delaying swelling caused by battery runaway and installing
thermal barrier solutions between batteries and battery cells. "Even though
the EV battery business is going through a bit of a tough time now, I still
think the future market outlook is bright. We have many components and
materials that can help clients make their batteries safe and optimize
efficiency. In that regard, we will continue to collaborate with battery
companies to provide solutions that enable Korean companies to lead the global
market and create a win-win situation," Lee said. 3M is also making
significant strides in the semiconductor sector, particularly in chemical
mechanical planarization (CMP), which refers to a process for removing the
surface irregularities of silicon wafers in chip production. The Korea head said
that 3M is leveraging its proprietary Micro-Replicated technology to increase
its presence in the CMP pads market. "Our products
have a significantly smoother and more uniform surface compared to competitors'
products, and we can create various patterns according to the diverse needs of
clients," he said. “3M's products have been highly praised by clients implementing
processes below 10 nanometers. Also, in terms of the lifespan of CMP pads under
mechanical stress, our CMP pads last two to three times longer than typical CMP
pads." 3M Korea was
established in 1977 as a joint venture between 3M and Doosan Group. In 1999, 3M
acquired Doosan's stakes, making its Korean unit a 100 percent subsidiary. The chief of the
Korean unit said that the Korean market holds more than just market value for
3M, saying, "Korea serves as a hub for innovation and technological
advancement, providing an important platform for 3M to continue growing and
evolving." "The Korean
market plays a significant role in 3M's global strategy. Korean consumers
demand high technology and quality, which drives 3M to continuously provide
innovative and reliable products. For example, 3M has established significant
partnerships in various industrial sectors in Korea. This is particularly
evident in fields requiring advanced technology such as electronics and
automotive," the managing director said. “In a recent
partnership, earlier this year, 3M signed an agreement with HD Korea
Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) to conduct a joint research
project on a high-performance vacuum insulation system for liquid hydrogen
storage and transportation. The agreement will see 3M's Glass Bubbles applied
to HD KSOE’s vacuum insulation system for liquid hydrogen storage tanks,
including insulation and construction workability evaluation, demonstration and
classification approval,” Lee added. Tackling climate
change with technology The managing
director said that 3M has been developing various solutions to address global
challenges such as climate change. "Examples
include the world's first self-charging protective communication headset, the
3M PELTOR WS ALERT XPV, the SOAR material created in collaboration with Svante
to accelerate decarbonization and the paper-based padded automatable curbside
recyclable (PACR) mailer material that companies can use to automate their
packaging processes," he said. 3M has set goals to
reduce its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2025, 80 percent by 2040 and to
achieve 100 percent carbon neutrality in its facilities by 2050. He said that 3M has
already achieved its global goal of increasing the use of renewable energy to
56.2 percent of total power consumption across its operations worldwide this
year, therefore reaching the 50 percent target set for 2025. 'Work Your Way'
system to boost employee creativity The managing
director said that 3M is creating a new, innovative work culture that enhances
employee creativity through a flexible working system called Work Your Way. Best known for its
Post-it Notes, which were born of an accidental discovery by one of its
researchers, 3M introduced the Work Your Way system in March 2022 during the
peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing employees to choose whether to work
on-site, remotely or a mix of both. Lee said this new
work system is based on trust and allows employees to set their work style to
increase work efficiency and encourage more creativity. "This system is
creating a new innovative culture based on trust. The response from employees
has been very positive, and most of them are happy with this system," he
said. He added that 3M
Korea encourages a culture of embracing failure and learning, which has led to
the creation of innovative technologies and products. "3M understands
innovation involves taking risks and not all ideas can succeed. By encouraging
experimentation and learning from failure, 3M fosters a more innovative and
adaptive mindset," the managing director said. "In Korea, 3M is running
an award program called the Penguin Award to promote a culture of embracing
failure and learning." As the chief of the
Korean unit, he expressed his desire to make 3M Korea the "best place to
work." "Strategy and
vision are important for a company, and so is core technology, but what really
ties them together is people. By enabling employees to think positively and
motivating them, the organization's energy level increases. An energized
organization cannot fail to succeed," he said. Source: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2024/06/133_376145.html
2024.06.11
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