Kia has successfully collaborated with its partners to apply world-first technology in developing new materials for automotive parts.
Kia announced on the 2nd that it has developed a protective coating for printed circuit boards using modified epoxy resin in collaboration with Bumwoo Chemical and SNS, acquiring two domestic patents and one overseas patent while improving the supply chain for key component materials.
As the share of electronic components in automobiles has increased, Kia has succeeded in developing new materials based on collaboration with SMEs to respond to the growing demand for PCBs and to resolve supply and quality issues.
PCBs are components that support electronic device elements and allow electrical signals to flow by connecting them.
The PCB protective coating serves as an insulating layer that protects electronic components and printed circuit boards from damage caused by environmental factors such as temperature, corrosion, shock, and vibration.
Recently, the demand for electronic control in automobiles has surged, increasing the importance of related components, but securing the material supply chain has become challenging due to strengthening global trade protection barriers.
In response, Kia has achieved supply chain stabilization through collaboration between finished vehicle manufacturers and parts suppliers, enabling greater cost competitiveness based on localized components.
The newly developed modified epoxy material can reduce component costs by 32.4% compared to existing materials. Additionally, the curing time of the material at room temperature has been halved, resulting in approximately double the productivity compared to before.
In terms of equipment investment, a maximum of 1 billion KRW can be saved per line, which alleviates the burden of new process equipment investments for parts suppliers.
A representative from a partner company expressed gratitude for Kia’s long-term support in fostering mutual growth, stating, “We hope to continue collaborating on technology development in the future.”
A Kia representative commented on the achievement, saying, “Through mutual growth, we were able to achieve the result of developing the world’s first material,” and added that they will proactively respond to changes in the mobility industry through continued collaboration with partners.
Ijung Jin daedusj@autodiary.kr