Hyosung Advanced Materials Participates in 'Milipol Paris 2021'

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Hyosung Advanced Materials showcased lightweight bulletproof vests and helmets incorporating aramid fiber ALKEX® at the international defense industry exhibition.

Hyosung Advanced Materials announced that it participated in the international defense industry exhibition "Milipol Paris 2021," held in Paris, France, from the 19th to the 22nd.

Organized by the French Ministry of the Interior and held biennially, Milipol Paris, now in its 22nd edition, is a globally prestigious exhibition in the safety and defense industry sectors.

Through this exhibition, Hyosung Advanced Materials presented the excellent stab-resistant and bulletproof solutions of ALKEX® to major customers in Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. Notably, at this exhibition, newly developed lightweight bulletproof vests and helmets using high-strength yarns were unveiled for the first time.

Hyosung Advanced Materials discussed supply schedules for various products with customers visiting the exhibition, ranging from bulletproof aramid yarns and fabrics to bulletproof panels used in armored vehicles, while also negotiating new products and technologies. Additionally, to attract new customers, meetings were held with advanced bulletproof companies in Spain, Belgium, and Germany, and new supply contracts are being pursued.

ALKEX® is a para-aramid fiber with strength five times greater than steel and is a high-performance super fiber that withstands temperatures exceeding 500 degrees Celsius. It is used in defense industries such as bulletproof vests, helmets, and armored vehicles, as well as in various industrial applications including reinforcement for optical cables, automotive hoses and belts, tire reinforcements, and construction reinforcements.

In particular, with the post-COVID-19 era accelerating non-face-to-face trends, demand for 5G communication optical cables is increasing, and the rapid adoption of electric vehicles is expanding the para-aramid market. The industry estimates the para-aramid market in 2021 to be approximately $2 billion to $2.5 billion, with a stable annual growth rate of around 7% expected over the next five years.

Hyosung Advanced Materials began research and development with its own technology in 2003 and launched ALKEX®, a para-aramid fiber characterized by high strength, in 2009. Following expansion investments last year, it invested 61.2 billion KRW to expand the Ulsan aramid production line by the first half of this year. As a result, the production capacity of the Ulsan aramid plant increased from 1,200 tons to 3,700 tons.

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