The Korean specialist in battery, display, and semiconductor equipment, is driving its next growth engine with MXene materials and thermoelectric modules.
Since the Trump administration, we’ve seen more aggressive national policies around foreign markets, and companies have had to reorganize their global export strategies amid mounting uncertainty. In such times, agility becomes a key differentiator — especially for SMEs. Do you agree that agility is a defining strength of Korean companies, and what opportunities or challenges are Korean SMEs currently facing?
Yes, I do agree. Agility is a word that characterizes Korean companies very well. Especially in today's fast-evolving global environment, being nimble in decision-making and operational execution is essential for survival and growth. Since the rise of protectionist policies and trade realignments, supply chains have been undergoing rapid restructuring. In fact, McKinsey recently emphasized agility as a top priority for companies navigating these changes.
For SMEs like NainTech, these shifts have created both challenges and new opportunities. For instance, with the expansion of onshoring trends, we’ve moved beyond traditional OEM contract manufacturing and are now forming more direct business relationships in local markets. This means we’re increasingly held to global standards of technology and quality, which raises the bar, but it also opens doors.
We have responded by doubling down on speed, customization, and quality. Our production systems are built to be responsive and client-specific. This agility is helping us turn industry-wide transitions into real opportunities, particularly in North America and Europe. We see this moment as a chance to strengthen our position as a global technology partner.
Korea has been a powerhouse in three core tech sectors: semiconductors, batteries, and displays. Giants like Samsung and SK Hynix continue to push innovation. Yet, these industries are also highly cyclical and prone to global volatility. How does NainTech navigate such uncertain terrain across all three sectors?
NainTech has a unique position in that we operate across all three sectors: semiconductors, secondary batteries, and displays. These are the backbone of Korea’s high-tech industry. We initially started in displays, developing precision lamination and high-purity web processing equipment. That technological foundation enabled us to expand into battery stacking equipment and, later, into semiconductor tools for advanced packaging lines.
We’ve evolved our core competencies into key technologies that serve multiple industries. Currently, we see strong growth potential in both the secondary battery and semiconductor sectors. Electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous driving, and energy storage systems (ESS) are driving demand in these areas.
In semiconductors, for example, the proliferation of data centers needed for AI and autonomous systems is fueling investment. That naturally leads to demand for advanced processing equipment. In batteries, there’s still enormous room for growth. Even today, we estimate that less than 30% of the global investment needed to electrify all internal combustion vehicles has been deployed. That leaves significant headroom for expansion.
In short, both secondary batteries and semiconductors will continue to be key engines of growth, and we are well-positioned to support and benefit from that trajectory.
While global investment in battery manufacturing has grown, some question the return on investment in the short term. Markets like the U.S. seem to be plateauing, while new regions like Indonesia are emerging. What’s your outlook for the battery industry over the next two to three years?
We’re at a transition point. Battery supply has ramped up significantly, enough to meet a portion of EV demand. But, there’s still a long way to go to achieve full global electrification. Over the next 2–3 years, I believe the focus will shift toward enhancing battery performance: increasing energy density, improving safety, and reducing the risk of fire. Solid-state battery technology, in particular, is gaining traction as the next frontier.
While growth may seem to have slowed in some regions, it’s important to note that only around 30% of the investment required for global EV adoption has been made. The battery industry is not just about vehicles anymore, ESS are becoming another major pillar. In fact, for the next couple of years, I expect ESS to lead the way, especially as energy infrastructure modernizes.
So, while we may be in a temporary holding pattern, the industry is poised for another wave of strong growth, and we are prepared for it.
Korea was recently ranked the No.1 country in terms of applying AI in manufacturing. NainTech has incorporated Digital Twin technology in battery cell production and showcased several automation innovations. What role does automation play in your company’s strategy, especially when balancing cost and quality?
Automation is essential. As customer expectations rise, we’re now asked not only to deliver defect-free quality but also to build systems that can self-monitor, predict issues, and optimize in real time.
To meet this demand, we’ve partnered with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to develop smart manufacturing technologies, notably our Digital Twin project for lamination and stacking equipment. Our goal is to build machines that can forecast failures before they occur and troubleshoot automatically using AI. This minimizes downtime, ensures consistent quality, and reduces manpower needs.
Another reason AI is critical: battery traceability. Every battery must be fully traceable back to its manufacturing history. If a vehicle encounters battery issues down the line, we must know exactly where and how it was made. AI helps us maintain that digital thread.
Finally, as global battery plant construction surges, there’s a shortage of skilled engineers to operate them. That’s why AI-driven automation has risen as a necessity. We are investing heavily through both government initiatives and internal R&D to lead in this space.
NainTech has achieved remarkable growth, 46% CAGR over the past four years, with 2024 revenue reaching KRW 197 billion. What were the key drivers of that growth? Has your focus been domestic, or have international markets played a role as well?
That growth was driven primarily by our strategic shift into the battery sector. Up until 2016, our core business was display equipment. Starting in 2017, however, our secondary battery business began to accelerate. From 2021 to 2023, battery equipment accounted for the bulk of our revenue growth. We also made solid inroads into semiconductor equipment, particularly web process tools for advanced packaging lines.
While domestic sales, especially to Korea’s major conglomerates, have been a strong foundation, we’ve also been actively engaging with overseas clients. We've supplied equipment through joint ventures between Korean conglomerates and global automakers, and we've been expanding direct relationships with international companies.
Though some of those overseas efforts are still maturing, we believe our technology, quality, and responsiveness give us a solid edge. Our long-term goal is to grow our global footprint significantly, and we’re laying the groundwork now.
What has been your biggest challenge in working with overseas clients?
Trust and technical credibility. For foreign companies establishing new production bases, choosing a reliable equipment supplier is critical. Competing with global players and proving that a Korean equipment manufacturer can meet their standards is no small task.
That said, we’ve addressed these challenges by building strong technical foundations and staying flexible, through a turnkey portfolio that includes lamination, stacking, packaging, activation, and inspection equipment, along with AI-based quality control and AMR-integrated smart process infrastructure. A few years ago, we lacked that infrastructure, but today we’re fully prepared to support clients with region-specific needs. That makes a huge difference in building trust and competitiveness in the global market.
You mentioned earlier the unique strengths of Korean and Japanese firms. As someone with deep experience across batteries and semiconductors, what do you believe is Korea’s competitive edge?
Korea’s greatest strength lies in its speed, in decision-making, technology development, and scaling production. We're not always the first to pioneer a technology, but we’re fast and bold in applying it and bringing it to market.
That’s especially true in batteries and semiconductors, where timing is everything. Korea’s strong industrial base, government support, and ecosystem of innovative SMEs allow us to move quickly and compete effectively — even with larger, more established global players.
NainTech reflects that spirit, agile, responsive, and committed to excellence.
For more details, explore their website at www.naintec.co.kr
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