K-Tech, a Korean electric furnace manufacturer, is accelerating its expansion into overseas markets with its proprietary heat treatment technology. The company produces equipment used for heat treatment of powders required in the production of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and indium tin oxide (ITO), a key material used in smartphone displays. By targeting markets in China, as well as the United States and Europe, K-Tech aims to increase its sales.

On the 23rd, K-Tech announced that it plans to actively expand into the Chinese market using its localized electric furnace technology. The company intends to supply equipment used for heat treatment of raw materials for ITO films, which are essential for implementing touch panels in liquid crystal display (LCD) devices.

The raw material for ITO films is in powder form. According to K-Tech, when the powder is heat-treated in the company’s electric furnace at approximately 1,650°C, it can produce clearer display quality compared to conventional ITO film manufacturing methods.

K-Tech CEO Kwang-Hee Lee stated, “We are currently discussing equipment supply with Korean ITO powder manufacturers that have entered the Chinese market.”

An electric furnace is essentially a kiln powered by electricity. Because it incorporates various scientific principles—including electrical resistance, electronic control, and metallurgy—it enables far more precise control compared to fossil fuel–based furnaces.

Its applications are also extremely diverse. Examples include melting furnaces, which melt iron ore to produce iron or refine metals, and heat treatment furnaces, which alter the properties of materials such as ITO powder.

K-Tech is considered a key foundational manufacturing company supporting major manufacturers. By collaborating with large Korean corporations such as Hyundai Steel and LG Chem, the company has accumulated numerous application cases. Recently, K-Tech expanded its product lineup by supplying an electric furnace for carbon nanotube (CNT) production to LG Chem.

CNT is an advanced material used in various fields including aircraft, automobiles, and secondary batteries. When CNT powder is placed in K-Tech’s electric furnace and heat-treated at 700–800°C with specific chemical substances injected, the particle size of the powder increases, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

In addition to heat treatment equipment for ITO, CNT, and steel manufacturing, K-Tech expects demand for heat treatment technologies to grow across many industries. In particular, the company sees strong potential in heat treatment equipment for implant materials and plans to complete development by the end of this year and target markets in the United States and Europe.

K-Tech stated that it has secured the technological capability to compete in the electric furnace market that has long been dominated by Japanese equipment manufacturers. Since its establishment in 2002, the company has obtained various patents related to heat treatment technology.

CEO Lee added, “Japanese companies such as Nihon Dennetsu, Chugai Ro, and Koyo currently hold the leadership in the electric furnace market. However, research in Korea has advanced significantly, so we believe we can catch up quickly. In fact, there has already been a case where K-Tech supplied equipment to a well-known Japanese materials company, which surprised the market.”