SEOUL, KOREA - Samyang Group will move in to the business of environmentally friendly plastic materials this year while expanding further into the electronic materials business as well. According to company sources on January 12, the group selected as the year's main business focus the commercialization of plastic material "isosorbide" and new display materials.

 

 

 

Group chairman Kim Yoon said in a message to employees, "In order to overcome the protracted recession, we must be able to find new growth engines and create new markets by coming up with differentiated products."

 

Isosorbide is a heterocyclic compound that is derived from glucose. It is used in medicine and has been touted as a potential biofeedstock. Samyang Corp., the group's flagship unit, has begun R&D on isosorbide-based bio-polycarbonate materials since 2011. Polycarbonate is widely used in automobile and home electronics because of its high-strength properties and versatility.

 

In addition, the group will expand aggressively in the business of electronic materials. In 2009 it succeeded in commercializing the column spacer, the essential material for displays, for the first time among Korean companies. A group official said, "Based on the column spacer manufacturing technology, we are working on developing new materials in the electronic area. By the year's end, we will be able to launch a new product."