Hyundai Livart Introduces Industry-First 'Laser Edge Technology'... Accelerating Quality Enhancement

Technology Without Adhesive for Kitchen and Household Furniture Instead of Traditional 'EVA Bond Adhesion' Method

A view of the 'Laser Single Edge Bender' from German company HOMAG, introduced by Hyundai Livart.
[Photo by Hyundai Livart]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] Hyundai Livart is accelerating the enhancement of quality by introducing the 'Laser Edge Technology' for the first time in the furniture industry.

'Laser Edge Technology' is a method of attaching the 'edge (EDGE)', a finishing material for exposed surfaces of wood and plywood that make up furniture, by melting the special functional layer (polymer) underneath with a laser without using adhesive.

Hyundai Livart, a total interior company affiliated with Hyundai Department Store Group, has decided to apply laser edge technology for furniture finishing to its main products in collaboration with HOMAG, the No.1 company in the German furniture and wood equipment market.

Hyundai Livart introduced HOMAG's 'Laser Single Edge Bander' equipment earlier this year and plans to first apply laser edge technology to the door finishing of major kitchen and home furniture products, then expand it to all products.

Although laser edge technology has operating costs more than three times higher compared to the 'EVA bond adhesive method' mainly used in the furniture industry, its finishing quality, including durability, is excellent. It offers superior heat resistance and water resistance at the cut surface finishing of furniture wood, compensating for the drawbacks of the existing EVA bond adhesive method such as adhesive exposure, discoloration, contamination, and strength degradation.

Despite these advantages, it is difficult and complicated to acquire the know-how for operating the technology, and there have been no cases of its introduction in Korea until now.

A Hyundai Livart official explained, "The laser edge technology introduced this time is an advanced furniture manufacturing technology used only by overseas premium kitchen furniture brands such as NOBILIA, BULTHAUP, and ALNO, which have an average selling price of over 50 million KRW (based on 84㎡)." He added, "We invested about a year just to secure the operational know-how."

Another advantage is the ability to realize differentiated designs. Since the EVA bond adhesive method uses adhesives limited to three colors?white, gray, and black?it contrasts with the furniture's original color and layout, but the laser edge finishing technology can be implemented in the same color as the furniture.

A Hyundai Livart official said, "Hyundai Livart is leading the trend of high-quality and eco-friendly furniture by declaring 'Zero Harmful Substance Management' using only E0 boards for all B2C furniture products for the first time in the furniture industry," adding, "We will continue to introduce premium furniture of the highest level in Korea based on the know-how we have accumulated."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.