ONterview
The power behind
the domestic production of UPW
Previously, Korea had to depend on other countries for UPW supply. Following the successful development of its own UPW technology, however, domestic UPW production is picking up speed, and the UPW demonstration plant is being constructed in phases. K-water will work together with Jinsung E&C and Hansung Cleantech to design and build the plant by 2025.
Text by Min Mun-soo
Photos by Eun-joo Kim
Jinsung E&C:
the UPW technology leader from research and design to implementation and construction
(From left)Director Jinsoo Park, Deputy Director Seokhwan Jeon, Team Leader Jaehwan Hwang, Team Leader Haerang Yoo
As the quality inspection criteria for water needed for semiconductor production are becoming increasingly strict nowadays, UPW treatment technology is also becoming more and more important. Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Environment has been implementing since 2021 an R&D project for domestic UPW production scheduled for completion in 2025.
K-water and Jinsung E&C are jointly carrying out a national project to develop domestically the technology for the production of UPW for industrial use, with the former as the coordinating research institute for this project and the latter responsible for designing and constructing the UPW supply pipes. In addition to R&D, the company installs pipes for plants that need UPW in Pyeongtaek, Paju, Gumi, and other cities. Jinsung E&C specializes in making and installing machinery and equipment. For example, it is involved in a broad spectrum of water treatment, including manufacturing and supplying vessels for water treatment, building and installing plant machinery and equipment, and setting up pipes. Jinsung E&C declared its commitment to the development of Korea’s UPW sector by constantly expanding its capacity for designing and implementing UPW treatment technology and for other areas of UPW production and supply.
Hansung Cleantech:
Driven by a sense of mission to contribute to the national economy, It aims to tap into the global UPW market.
Hanseong CleanTech CEO Jongwoon Park and Dr. Dae Soo Gil, an engineering Ph.D.
In 2019, Japan imposed export regulations on semiconductor materials and removed Korea from the white list, triggering a sense of crisis that any disruption to the UPW supply will likely undermine the semiconductor industry, which is the backbone of the national economy. Launched in 2021, the 5-year UPW R&D project focuses on designing, constructing, and operating a UPW demonstration plant with the goal of conducting performance evaluation of key unit processes as well as the demonstration plant and produce UPW domestically.
Together with K-water, Hansung Cleantech completed the construction of the 1st production line with capacity of 1,200 tons per day to meet the urgent demand. The 1st production line is currently supplying UPW for wafer production after the performance test was done by the user. The 2nd line—also with capacity of 1,200 tons per day—is currently being operated on a trial basis. Hansung Cleantech’s UPW project was chosen as one of the Top 20 R&D Projects by the Ministry of Environment and listed among the 100 National R&D Projects by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Founded in 1990, Hansung Cleantech is a water treatment company offering environment-related total solutions including design, procurement, manufacturing, construction, and test operation of machinery and equipment necessary for a broad spectrum of water industry activities such as UPW, seawater desalination, and treatment and reuse of wastewater. The company announced its plan to secure further growth momentum and compete in the 23 trillion won global UPW market as a global environmental company.
1. Excellence and Commendation Certificate
2. View of the Ultra-Pure Water Production Line