Dongkuk Steel Vice Chairman Jang Se-wook.

Dongkuk Steel has begun to mass produce antimicrobial, color steel plates, Korea’s first such product.
Dongkuk Steel completed the development of antimicrobial, color steel plates that have proven to be effective in suppressing the habitation of germs, viruses and molds after about one year of research. It launched “Luxsteel Bio Coat,” a sub-brand of the brand Luxsteel. The steelmaker embarked on production to put the new steel plates on the market in June.
Luxsteel Bio Coat consists of Bio Coat Premium and Bio Coat Microban. The steelmaker obtained a license from Korean and global prestigious antimicrobial certification companies. Bio Coat Premium and Bio Coat Microban each received a certification and a mark from the Korean antimicrobial solution company FITI and the world’s No. 1 antimicrobial solution firm Microban.
They are conventional quasi-antimicrobial, color steel products, but they are based on their own testing outcomes. In Korea, there are no antimicrobial, color steel plates that have been certified by global certification standards.
Unlike the conventional antimicrobial steel products, Luxsteel Bio Coat products have adopted differentiation strategies. They have turned out to not only resist life environment germs, but also have an effect of de-ordorization and anti-mold and preventing graffiti. They have secured absolute safety by adding special ceramic addictives.
Bio Coat products are to be used for antimicrobial elevator firewalls for the first time in the world. They are in wide use in places closely related to people’s lives and sensitive to germs like ordinary structure interiors, pharmaceutical companies, semiconductor plants and food factories. Strengths include conducting special treatment through simple colors and designing diverse patterns.
Starting in Korea in June, Dongkuk Steel plans to expand sales of antimicrobial, color steel plates to about 10 customer companies in five countries – Thailand, China, the UK, and Australia.
Dongkuk Steel Logs Operating Profit Streak for 12th Consecutive Quarter
Records 20.6 billion won operating profit for first quarter of 2018, according to consolidated statement under the K-IFRS
Dongkuk Steel posted 20.6 billion won in operating profit for the first quarter of 2018, recording a profit streak for the 12th consecutive quarter, according to a consolidated statement under the K-IFRS. The steelmaker saw a sales decline 4.8 percent to 1,401.3 billion won in sales over the previous quarter. The net profit for the first three months of this year changed to a loss, influenced by losses by a joint venture in Brazil.
A separate statement under the K-IFRS showed that Dongkuk Steel chalked up 10.7 billion won in operating profit, logging a profit streak for the 12th consecutive quarter, and the company posted saw sales drop 3 percent to 263.9 billion won and net profit turn into a loss.
Declining profitability for the first quarter of the year was buffeted by a delay in construction projects due to cold weather and raw material unit price hikes. The steelmaker is forecast to see its profitability improve as product demand is on the rise in the second quarter, and raw material prices are expected to stabilize.
The Brazilian CSP steel mill, which went into operation in June 2016, is expected to be in top shape by producing 700,000 tons of slabs in the first quarter of the year, a 25 percent surge over the same period of last year. The steel mill plans to enhance profitability by accelerating retrenching efforts to reduce unit prices amid favorable market conditions such as the peaking of slab prices.
Yuanta Securities Co. revised target share prices for Dongkuk Steel to 14,500 won, citing improving profitability for the second quarter of the year.

A view of a certification Donguk Steel’s Bio Coat Microban received from the world’s No. 1 antimicrobial solution firm Microban. (Photos: Donguk Steel)