LG Electronics starts production at Vietnam functional materials line with 2,000-ton annual capacity

LG Electronics said Thursday it has begun operating production lines for glass powder-based functional materials — LG Purotech and EasiClean enamel — at its manufacturing subsidiary in Haiphong, Vietnam.

Functional materials are a new business LG Electronics is developing as a core business-to-business venture. The company set up the Haiphong production line in response to tightening hygiene and safety standards across industries and rapidly growing demand for functional materials.

The Haiphong line occupies a dedicated 3,200-square-meter space and has an annual production capacity of about 2,000 tons. Combined with the existing line at LG Smart Park in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province — which has an annual capacity of about 4,500 tons — total annual production capacity now stands at 6,500 tons.

LG Electronics plans to use the Haiphong line as a key production base serving demand in North America, Europe, China, India and Southeast Asia and other Global South markets.

Drawing on the combined production capacity in Changwon and Haiphong, the company said it aims to supply products reliably in line with global customer demand and production schedules, improve delivery responsiveness and expand its B2B business.

LG Purotech is an antibacterial and antifungal functional material added in small quantities to plastics, paints, rubber and other materials to suppress microbial contamination. It is characterized by high compatibility with a wide range of materials while minimizing changes to the base material. It can be applied across diverse fields including home appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators and air conditioners, as well as building materials, hygiene products, food packaging and medical equipment.

EasiClean enamel is a functional coating material that applies a thin layer of glassy ceramic to metal surfaces. When used on the interior of cooking appliances such as microwave ovens and ovens, it allows food residue and grease to be removed easily. It resists discoloration and scratching even after prolonged use and maintains quality at high temperatures, making it a key material for kitchen appliances where hygiene and ease of maintenance are priorities.

LG Electronics has automated about 80 percent of the entire production process at the Haiphong line. The company said this improves production efficiency and stability while ensuring consistent product quality.

The company applied precision temperature-control technology to the melting process — a critical step — to maintain a uniform internal temperature in the furnace. Temperature variations inside the furnace can degrade product quality. Technology to minimize erosion of refractory materials, which serve as a protective lining inside the furnace, has also been applied, as wear or melting of those materials can introduce foreign matter into the molten glass.

LG Electronics' functional materials business has more than doubled in sales every year since it was launched in earnest in 2023. The company has secured more than 420 related patents.

"We will provide differentiated material solutions that customers need, based on our production infrastructure and quality competitiveness, and continue to expand business opportunities," said Kim Young-seok, head of LG Electronics' HS Functional Materials Business Division.