Air Purifier Market Aiming for a Rebound, Key Focus on 'Suction Technology'

Visited Kyowon Incheon Factory Producing Air Purifiers
Applied Double Cone Filter Structure and Inclined Airflow Method to Improve Suction Performance
Enhanced Efficiency by Reducing Volume Up to 71% Compared to Same Capacity Air Purifiers

Production workers at Kyowon Group's Incheon factory were working on the manufacturing process of the 'Wells Air Purifier Tornado' on the 27th. The double cone in the center of the photo, shaped like a vortex, is a structure patented by Kyowon to enhance the suction power of the air purifier. Photo by Kim Heeyoon

[Incheon=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] On the 27th, at the production line of Kyowon Group’s factory in Gojan-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, assembly work for the new air purifier Tornado was in full swing at a cell line composed of teams of four. As demand increased with the peak air purifier season in autumn, the hands of the assembly workers became busier. Park Jeongho, head of the production team at the Incheon factory, explained, “The cumulative sales volume this year has reached 20,000 units, and with the increased demand during the autumn peak season, we are currently producing 400 units per day on average.”

Air purifiers, which used to see demand concentrated in spring and autumn when yellow dust was severe, have recently established themselves as year-round appliances due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and longer time spent at home. The Tornado produced at Kyowon’s Incheon factory is equipped with a double-cone filter, different from existing air purifiers, enhancing suction performance. Lee Kyungho, part leader of the product planning team who oversaw product development, added, “The characteristic of this product is that it compensates for the height limitation of existing air purifier products with an inclined discharge and enlarges the filter area.”

Upon checking the filters assembled on the production line, unlike existing products that typically use one flat filter, two filters were manufactured by attaching each end to form a circular O-shape. Kyowon explained that the patented double-cone technology inserted between these circular filters strengthens the suction power.

Typically, in air purifiers, the fan’s power during the process of absorbing indoor air, passing it through the filter, and discharging it directly correlates with the product’s performance. The part leader explained, “To use in large spaces, a large fan was inevitable, but this increased noise and power consumption. To solve this, we manufactured the body in a circular shape to implement a 360-degree suction angle and attached two sets of filters to fit the circular design.” Previously, Kyowon developed and patented the double-cone technology during research aimed at enabling air intake from the bottom, responding to the increasing demand for air purifiers not only in living rooms but also in individual spaces.

◆Double-Cone Suction Structure and Inclined Discharge Angle Achieve Fast Purification Speed

As the cylindrical body moved along the production line, work continued to install the double-cone and assemble the circular filters. The part leader emphasized that suction performance improved by more than 18% compared to existing models through the tornado-shaped double-cone. The O-shaped filter is designed to be assembled directly into the filter frame without separate plastic structures, contributing to volume reduction, packaging, and reduced plastic use, thereby aiding resource circulation. The Tornado air purifier, by installing the double-cone between the circular filters, absorbs dust from the floor and minimizes the difference in airflow speed between the upper and lower parts.

After assembly, the air purifiers are moved to the quality inspection section, where joints, filters, and operational status are checked. After a primary inspection at each assembly step, a secondary sampling inspection of finished products is conducted four times a day to enhance product completeness.

The Kyowon Incheon factory operates on a 6,610㎡ area with a total of eight production lines for air purifiers, water purifiers, bidets, and more. For air purifiers, 400 units are produced daily based on an 8-hour workday. By configuring cell lines, introducing automation systems, and strengthening quality inspections, the factory improves production efficiency while minimizing defect rates.

The part leader stated, “Although small in size, the Tornado, which has improved purification capability, increases suction performance by 18% and purification speed by 30% compared to existing models, while reducing volume by more than 71% compared to air purifiers of the same capacity. It is a product tailored to the recently increased demand for residential environments of 20 pyeong or more. With the recent easing of COVID-19, the operating rate of the Chinese factory has increased, leading to severe fine dust inflow and increased demand for air purifiers. Therefore, we expect to sell 65,000 units this year.”

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