LG Electronics said on Feb. 5 that it took part in PLASTINDIA, India's largest industrial materials expo held in New Delhi from Feb. 5 to 10, and unveiled its antimicrobial functional new material technology "Purotec."
Purotec, in glass powder form, is an antimicrobial and antifungal functional material that, when added in small amounts during the production of materials such as plastic, paint, and rubber, prevents odors and contamination caused by microorganisms.
At this exhibition, which drew more than 3,200 companies from about 80 countries worldwide, LG Electronics set up a booth for the first time.
It highlighted a total of five Purotec lineups at the front and allowed visitors to experience daily life–oriented product groups incorporating Purotec, including home appliances, building materials, sanitary products, food packaging, and medical equipment. In India, which is rapidly emerging as a global manufacturing hub, it plans to introduce Purotec solutions applicable to a wide range of fields to business-to-business (B2B) customers and to seek new business opportunities.
LG Electronics will establish a second glass powder production base at its Hai Phong plant in Vietnam this year and begin operations within the year. It currently has production facilities with an annual capacity of 4,500 tons at the Smart Park in Changwon, South Gyeongsang. Since 2023, sales of functional glass powder, including Purotec, have more than doubled every year as market demand has grown.
LG Electronics first applied functional glass powder to ovens launched in North America in 2013 and has filed 420 glass powder–related patents to date.
Recently, it completed registrations for antimicrobial-related regulations required to enter the European and U.S. markets for Purotec. Last year, it signed a business agreement with SGS Korea and agreed to jointly develop an international certification that officially recognizes the antimicrobial performance of LG Purotec.