KPF(CEO Song Moo-hyun, Kim Hyung-noh), a leading Industrial fastener company in Korea, signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with POSCO in order to jointly develop and do marketing high-strength fastener for construction and Industrial use.   

Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, the non-face-to-face business agreement between the two companies aims to establish an organic cooperation system for both executives and employees while securing a foundation for mutual growth through joint development of high-strength fastener.

Through the MOU, POSCO's World Best technology and KPF's Fastener manufacturing technology will create synergy to provide a higher-quality assembly solution that can be applied in related industries.

The cooperation including all areas for new products commercialization from joint development of three ultra-high-strength bolts applied with POSCO materials, production prototypes, reliability testing, certification acquisition, and marketing.

Currently, the Korean Industrial Standard (KS) of construction bolts is registered only with 10T grade products, so it aims to register KS along with the development of high-strength (14T Class) bolts.  Compared to current 10T-class products, 14T Class bolts have increased tensile strength by 40%.

The 14.9 ultra-high strength bolt for Industrial use is customer-oriented assembly solutions. In order to realize total cost savings, It is evaluated as a bolt with a level of reliability that is hard to compare to before by applying product design technology applied to the aerospace industry and automotive engine assembly.

Meanwhile, the MOU is expected to expand Japanese construction market along with the Ministry of land, Infrastructure, and Transport's Ministerial Certification of Japan, acquired in Feb this year. This is because demand for ultra-high-strength bolts is steadily increasing in the Japanese construction market, which is difficult to quality due to frequent earthquakes.

Ultra-high strength bolts are characterized by better tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation in the same specification. For this reason, there are many advantages in usability than conventional bolts. For example, when applied to automobiles and industrial machinery, it can give lighter parts, better fuel efficiency, and higher safety. If applied to building structures, it can not only improve earthquake-resistant performance but also reduce the number of bolts required for joints, which can reduce construction period and cost.

Kim Hyung-noh, CEO of KPF, said, "The MOU is meaningful in that it can strengthen profitability through the sale of premium products with high value added while increasing brand awareness and quality competitiveness in the global market."