Seho Tech, a local chemical materials supplier, is expanding its business into the global market with its eco-friendly chemical solutions, the company said.

Seho Tech is the nation’s first company to commercialize the technology to recycle polyurethane foam in 1997 after long years of research to reduce carbon emissions generated from incinerating waste building materials. In 2008, the firm again succeeded in recycling the foam into polyol, used in many sectors, including panels for buildings, refrigerators and cold storages. 

The success of the technology development is meaningful because even some global companies tried to recycle the wastes but eventually gave up the commercialization because of lack of profitability, according to industry watchers.

Seho Tech produces 2,000 tons of polyol per month and supplies 90 percent of it to around 50 companies in 38 nations.

“We are able to meet the orders because we are stably being supplied with the waste materials from large companies,” said Seho Tech chairman Kang Chan-hong.

The company is aiming to expand its business -- mainly polyol -- into the U.S. and European countries from the current main markets including India and the Middle East, he added.

The Gimhae-based company plans to continue to focus on eco-friendly chemical solutions.

The firm recently succeeded in developing a non-tin urethane catalyst to better respond to regulations on the use of tin compounds.

It also developed limited-combustible polyol, which has improved fire retardant properties compared to existing urethane foams. This is a product to make up for the weakness of inflammable urethane foam, the company said.

“We expect that the limited-combustible polyol will be widely used in many areas, which include cold storages, urethane boards and building insulation,” the company’s spokesperson said.