The 'Technology Competition' Enters the Home... From Boilers to Heating Mats

'2023 Model Gidulami 3rd Generation Carbon Mat Ondol'.
Photo by Gidulami

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] Technologies that seemed to be installed only in cutting-edge electronic devices, such as satellite protection insulation materials, OLED (organic light-emitting diode) touch panel smart remote controls, and Bluetooth functions controlled by smartphones, have entered the living room.

Leading competitors in the domestic boiler market, Kiturami Boiler and Kyungdong Navien, are fiercely competing in technology by applying various new technologies derived from boilers to the '3rd generation carbon mat ondol' and the premium hot water mat 'EQM591.'

Space Industry Technology 'Spin-off' Applied to Heating Mats

Kiturami recently applied technology used in the space industry as a 'spin-off' to its heating mats. Kiturami's new product, the 'Camping Mat Ondol,' attracted attention by applying the 'Hitsel insulation material,' jointly developed with the insulation team of the Nuri rocket satellite. It blocks cold air rising from the floor, reduces heat loss emitted downward, and provides continuous radiant heat only upward. Hitsel insulation material is a newly developed advanced material adapted for camping conditions based on the multi-layer film insulation (MLI) technology that protects satellites from rapid temperature changes in space environments.

Considering its use outdoors rather than indoors, it also incorporates the 'Silver Wire Network Surface Heating Technology,' which has excellent thermal conductivity. The surface heating technology that warms the entire mat is based on the core technology of the 'Silver Wire Network Heater,' composed of ultra-fine wires made of silver (Ag), which has excellent thermal conductivity. The ultra-fine wire is a special heating element made of silver (Ag) material in the form of thin, long rods with a cross-sectional diameter in micrometers (μm, one-millionth of a meter). It quickly reaches high temperatures even at low voltage, does not cause sparks like conventional heating wires even if partially damaged, eliminating fire risks, and maintains normal heating.

For the first time in heating mats, a detachable main unit and a smart remote control with an OLED touch panel were installed. It features various Korean expressions and voice guidance functions, is rechargeable without the need for separate batteries, and has a C-type charging port on the side, allowing charging without docking the main unit. It can be used for up to one week on a single charge, and touching the mood light at the bottom of the main unit sounds an alarm to easily find the remote control. All functions of the carbon mat can be operated from up to 7 meters away.

The Bluetooth function that controls the carbon mat via smartphone has revolutionized convenience. Kiturami's '2023 model Kiturami 3rd generation carbon mat ondol' allows control of carbon mats in distant rooms such as children's rooms or the master bedroom through the 'Kiturami Ondol' app installed on a smartphone. Kyungdong Navien's premium hot water mat 'EQM591' also supports Wi-Fi, enabling users to preheat the heating mat before returning home or turn it off remotely via a dedicated app even when away.

New hot water mat model EQM591 from Kyungdong Navien.
[Photo by Kyungdong Navien]

From Boiler Technology to Heating Mats, Technological Advances Expand the Market

The 'Aramid Carbon Heating Wire,' made of aramid material five times stronger than steel and capable of withstanding high temperatures up to 500℃, is wrapped in a double special coating and has passed 800,000 bending tests to ensure safety. The carbon heating wire inside the mat is fixed by a special heat pressing method, preventing wire detachment or overlapping, and can be washed with water up to five times. The carbon heating wire emits far-infrared rays that deliver warmth deep into the skin and help improve immunity. The mat has completed textile product certification and safety tests for radon and thoron, and has obtained electromagnetic field environment certification (EMF), eliminating concerns about electromagnetic waves.

Various 'sleep tech' and convenience functions that improve sleep quality are standard. These include an automatic temperature control system that maintains optimal sleep temperature according to body temperature changes during sleep, a bedtime function that maintains a cozy temperature of 33℃ for 9 hours, a heating therapy function that relieves fatigue with a high temperature of 50℃ for 2 hours, and separated heating that individually controls the left and right sides of the mat in 1℃ increments to match each person's body temperature. Kyungdong Navien has advanced from 1-degree unit control to precise control in 0.5-degree increments.

The technology that precisely controls temperature in 0.5 to 1-degree increments is a spin-off from boiler manufacturing technology applied to heating mats. IoT technology that allows boiler control from outside when away, separated left-right control of heating mats, and an automatic temperature control system that detects time and temperature to adjust heat are also boiler technologies applied to heating mats.

As high-end products with enhanced safety and convenience are released by applying technologies acquired during boiler production to heating mats, a generational shift in heating mats is naturally progressing. The domestic heating mat market is clearly establishing carbon mats as the mainstream, which had been lagging behind the first-generation electric mats and the second-generation hot water mats that emphasized functionality.

An industry insider said, "The heating mat market is estimated to be worth 400 to 500 billion KRW, and considering the lifespan of previously purchased products, electric mats or hot water mats are still the mainstream." However, "due to technological advancements and improved convenience, carbon mats are expanding the market by 15 to 20% annually." Just as boiler technology has been applied to carbon mats, carbon mat technology is also being applied to other heating devices, and technological development is driving the expansion of the heating device market.

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