The planned expansion will add a facility capable of producing 400,000 RO membranes annually.
LG Chem will build a smart factory that incorporates AI and digital transformation (DX) automated processes. Through real-time anomaly detection and quality and productivity management along the production line, it will boost production speed by more than 25% compared to conventional facilities.
With the expansion, LG Chem aims to double its current KRW200 billion RO membrane business within the next five years. In addition to the existing seawater desalination market, LG Chem also targets the growing industrial RO membrane market, including industrial water production and wastewater reuse.
Hak Cheol Shin, CEO of LG Chem, said: “Additional investment in Cheongju, which serves as RO membrane production base, will significantly expand our production capacity and position us as a global leader in RO membrane.” He added that the company “will provide top-level water treatment solutions to broader global customers and further achieve growth in related areas such as lithium extraction and CO₂ separation to align with the latest global megatrends."
The Cheongju RO membrane plant will operate on 100% renewable energy by 2030.