New Future Car Parts Development by 'T&G'... "Becoming a Global Partner"

Iksan Industrial Complex Auto Parts Innovation Company 'T&G'
Challenging Battery Thermal Management System Based on Technology
Smart Factory Established... 10% Productivity Improvement Effect

T&G Smart Factory Exterior View

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] ‘T&G,’ an automotive parts manufacturer located in Iksan National Industrial Complex, Jeonbuk, is developing new products for future vehicles in response to the post-COVID-19 era. Based on excellent quality and technological capabilities, the company aims to enter the battery thermal management system parts market and become a partner to all global automakers.

Established in 1994, T&G specializes in manufacturing automotive steering and suspension parts. Steering devices refer to the mechanisms operated when the driver turns the steering wheel to change the vehicle’s direction, while suspension devices are shock absorbers that reduce impacts and vibrations from the road during driving. T&G is the only domestic company producing linkages and ball joints for commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses. Leveraging solid technological expertise, it supplies parts to all domestic commercial vehicle companies including Hyundai Motor and Kia, as well as leading overseas automotive companies. Last year, 6% (2.3 billion KRW) of its sales revenue (38 billion KRW) was achieved through exports to the U.S. and Southeast Asia.

In line with the shift toward future vehicles such as electric and hydrogen cars, T&G is advancing product sophistication through lightweighting and simplification. Additionally, through business restructuring, it is developing new parts based on new manufacturing methods and is planning to enter the battery thermal management system parts market, which it has not previously explored. Through this, the company has set a goal to become a partner to all global automakers.

Since 2015, T&G has independently introduced pilot processes for smart factories. In December 2018, it was selected by Jeonbuk Technopark as a recipient of support for smart factory construction projects. It received 70% (350 million KRW) of the costs for building the smart factory, including system-linked automation equipment, controllers, and sensors. Kim Kyung-man, Head of Management at T&G, said, "By monitoring product output and quality in real time, inventory management has become easier," adding, "Through the establishment of the smart factory, we expect to meet diverse customer needs by developing new parts for railroads, defense, and future vehicles."

T&G explained that since the factory’s completion in 2019, productivity has improved by more than 10%, inventory has decreased by 20%, and shipment defects have been reduced to less than 1 ppm. The company has also worked to raise awareness and promote the spread of smart factories by conducting tours for SME employees and related organizations. Earlier, in 2014, it was named a ‘KICOX Global Leading Company’ by the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation. The KICOX Global Leading Company program identifies outstanding representative companies in industrial complexes nationwide and fosters them as global-level technology innovation small and medium enterprises.

CEO Seol Jong-hoon of T&G stated, "Through smart factories and research and development, we will become a company that is not afraid of change and constantly challenges itself."

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