Samsung dedicates European research center at Industriepark Höchst

Cheil Industries has officially opened its European research center at Industriepark Höchst. This subsidiary of Samsung, South Korea’s largest conglomerate, dedicated its new Frankfurt Research & Development Center in the middle of August this year. Fourteen Samsung researchers will be developing and testing new materials for flat-screen monitors, heat-resistant polymers for electronic applications and components for water filtration in the 350 m² facility. This is the only research center operated by Samsung Cheil Industries in Europe. The company, who has about one-tenth of its 5,400 employees in research and development, also maintains research centers in South Korea, Japan, and the United States. Cheil Industries invested around one million euros in the new research center in order to move closer to the European market. Industriepark Höchst is an ideal location for this purpose, with its excellent traffic links, nearby international airport, large network of scientists and wide range of infrastructure services. Laboratory designers at Infraserv Höchst, the operator of Industriepark Höchst, were heavily involved in outfitting the laboratories. Dong Soo Lee, Managing Director of the new Frankfurt Research & Development Center, is extremely pleased that the lab opened its doors so quickly: “The lab was up and running after only one year of planning.”

First Korean company at Industriepark Höchst

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Tuwon Chang, director of global R&D at Cheil Industries, said, “Industriepark Höchst is one of the world’s best locations to do research. It has an excellent laboratory infrastructure and many highly skilled professionals. We can easily envision growing with our new research center at the park.” Jürgen Vormann, CEO of Infraserv Höchst, welcomed the representatives and employees of the company: “We are thrilled to welcome Samsung Cheil Industries as the first Korean company in our park. As the park operator, Infraserv Höchst will enable Samsung Cheil Industries to devote all its attention to research and expand at the park if necessary.”

Research for better displays and water treatment plants

After the ribbon was cut, plant manager Carsten Plüg took the guests on a tour of the lab facilities. “We develop new polymers for automobiles and electronic applications, and also dyes for displays,” Carsten Plüg said. Samsung employees Ralf Braden and Susanne Bubeliny showed how they develop and test dyes for TV monitors: An acrylate-based plastic film strip is applied, and its optical characteristics are measured with a spectrometer. The purpose of the lab work is to find better acrylate formulations in order to provide even more brilliant colors on TVs, smartphone displays and computer monitors. Samsung is also researching new polymers, i.e. highly durable plastics. These characteristics are important if components become extremely hot during operation. André Lerch’s team develops and optimizes membrane filtration systems for water treatment. The membranes for the treatment systems come from the main R&D center in South Korea. “In Frankfurt, we test how these membranes can be efficiently and effectively designed as modules and arranged in the system. These tests use flow simulations and other process engineering methods”, André Lerch said. This is done because the plant components may have to be engineered and configured differently depending on the plant size and the type of water being treated. The researchers’ voyage of discovery has only just begun. And Industriepark Höchst is the perfect embarkation point.