K-Mold Technology Leaps Forward as a Leader in the Global Manufacturing Industry! INTERMOLD KOREA 2021 Held Online for the First Time Ever, March 16-22

'Mold Industry': Source of National Manufacturing Competitiveness Driving Production of Masks and Other Pandemic Supplies Amid COVID Crisis
As the importance of domestic manufacturing bases heightens globally due to COVID-19, the significance of the mold industry – the foundation of manufacturing – is being emphasized more than ever.
Molds are the 'templates' used to mass-produce identical products. They are essential for manufacturing everything, from ultra-precision semiconductors to automobiles, home appliances, and various daily necessities, depending on their application. Particularly, with the surge in demand for pandemic supplies like masks and diagnostic kits due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Korea's excellent mold technology enabled the rapid production of related molds, boosting the output of protective equipment. This became a crucial factor in establishing Korea's capacity as a 'K-Quarantine' nation.
Shin Yong-moon, Chairman of the Korea Mold Industry Cooperative (and CEO of Silla Engineering Co., Ltd.), stated, "Korea's mold industry ranks 5th in global production and 2nd in exports, possessing outstanding technological prowess and competitiveness." He emphasized, "Amid COVID-19, where establishing domestic supply chains for medical and protective equipment has become a key determinant of national capability, our mold industry is recognized as a hidden protagonist."
"Notably, Korea recently succeeded in producing Low Dead Space (LDS) syringes for vaccinations, which was underpinned by our precision mold manufacturing capabilities," he added. "The importance of molds will only grow more pronounced moving forward."

Mold Industry Faces Deepening Difficulties Triggered by COVID-19… INTERMOLD KOREA 2021 Seeks to Overcome Downturn with Online Platform
However, despite its stature, the mold industry is currently facing significant domestic and international challenges, including a prolonged slump in the domestic market and the global spread of protectionism. Moreover, the protracted COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a sustained period of low growth.
This crisis in the mold industry, the bedrock of national manufacturing, directly threatens the competitiveness of Korea's key industries like automobiles, home appliances, and semiconductors, raising serious concerns. In response, the Korea Mold Industry Cooperative will host the International Mould & Related Equipment Exhibition (INTERMOLD KOREA 2021) online for the first time ever (www.intermoldkorea.com), aiming to present solutions for overcoming the crisis and achieving renewed growth while paving the way for a new leap forward and exploring fresh markets.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary since its inception in 1981 as the world's first specialized mold exhibition, INTERMOLD KOREA is undergoing a full 'Digital Transformation' in consideration of visitor safety due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This makes it the first exhibition in the related industry sector to make this complete shift.
The online INTERMOLD KOREA 2021 will initially run for 7 days from March 16 (Tue) to 22 (Mon), 2021 – the originally scheduled offline dates – with a second session planned for September.
Over the course of the week, the online exhibition will feature a diverse program accessible via the official website, including an opening ceremony to kick off the event, virtual company exhibition halls, online video export consultations to support overseas market expansion, technology seminars, and conferences.
The exhibition will see participation from leading domestic mold companies, as well as prominent advanced machinery firms like Hwacheon Machinery, Doosan Machine Tools, and Hyundai Wia, plus numerous solution providers for industrial process innovation. Collectively, they will present strategies for the post-COVID era through the online platform.
Regarding this first-ever online exhibition, Chairman Shin stated, "By presenting new non-face-to-face marketing solutions for the mold industry, we aim to invigorate the entire sector and expand its reach into international marketing. INTERMOLD KOREA 2021 will serve as a milestone, establishing a New Normal and setting a new standard for global marketing within the manufacturing industry."