[Hongcheon=E-Daily Reporter JAEMIN SONG ] On the 13th, at the Samsung Medison Hongcheon Plant in Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province. Upon entering the newly constructed manufacturing building, a long line of automated production equipment was lined up, manufacturing mainboards—the core components of ultrasound diagnostic devices. Small electronic components were being placed nonstop onto the green circuit boards. A single ultrasound diagnostic device contains between 15,000 and 20,000 components. Here, surface-mount technology (SMT) equipment—which mounts electronic components such as semiconductors onto the surface of circuit boards—operates 24 hours a day.

The new production line at the Hongcheon plant, unveiled to the media for the first time by Samsung Medison that day, offered a comprehensive view of the entire process—from manufacturing to inspection and shipment—of ultrasound diagnostic devices. Son Hyun-soo, head of the manufacturing team at Samsung Medison, explained, “The mainboard serves as the brain and nervous system of an ultrasound device,” adding, “To prevent even the slightest defects, we maintain dust levels at one-tenth of those in a typical manufacturing environment.”

Moving along the production line, we came to a high-temperature testing room. Here, completed circuit boards are operated continuously at 40 degrees Celsius for 48 hours to check for defects. A central server automatically turns the power on and off to conduct repetitive stress tests. Special tiles were also laid on the floor to prevent component damage caused by static electricity.

Mainboards that pass inspection move on to the assembly process. This follows a “one-person end-to-end assembly” method, in which a single worker assembles one product from start to finish. The assembler’s name, the product’s serial number, and the assembly time are all recorded so that the product can be traced in the event of future quality issues.

Products are not shipped immediately upon completion of assembly. Finished products undergo repeated testing for 24 hours in a 40-degree environment. They are then tested in a lab with lighting dimmed to a brightness similar to that of an actual hospital examination room, where image noise, image quality, touch panel responsiveness, and ease of use are verified. A red “Testing in Progress” sign was lit in front of the testing lab.

Team Leader Son said, “It takes about 30 minutes to assemble a single unit, but we conduct extensive testing at both the circuit board and finished product stages,” adding, “If a defect is found, we repair it and then retest the unit from the beginning.” Devices that pass the finished product inspection are packaged in specialized cushioning material and shipped to approximately 110 countries worldwide. On the packaging line, automated equipment handled the task of moving heavy products.

50 Billion Won Invested in Hongcheon, Gangwon Plant… Target of 40,000 Units Annually by 2030

This new manufacturing building marks the largest expansion of production facilities since Samsung Medison was acquired by SamsungElectronics in 2011. With a total investment of 50 billion won, it was constructed with a total floor area of 14,548 square meters (approximately 4,400 pyeong). The company consolidated production facilities that had been scattered across multiple buildings and established a streamlined production flow that runs in a straight line from parts receipt to shipment.

Samsung Medison expects to produce approximately 24,000 units at the Hongcheon plant this year. With the current facilities, the company can produce 27,000 to 28,000 units annually, and aims to establish a production capacity of up to 40,000 units by 2030 through additional equipment investments. Team Leader Son explained, “We plan to expand our facilities to meet growing demand by adding SMT lines and expanding assembly space.” The expansion of facilities is expected to create local jobs and inject new vitality into the Hongcheon County economy.

The expansion of production facilities is an investment aimed at responding to growth trends in the global market. While the global ultrasound diagnostic device market grew by 3.7% last year, Samsung Medison’s revenue increased by 16.2%. Compared to the time of its integration into Samsung, its revenue has nearly tripled. The Hongcheon plant is a key hub that produces the entire volume of exports, which account for more than 90% of the company’s revenue.

Samsung Medison is supplying products—including the premium ultrasound diagnostic devices “HERA Z20” and “R20,” which incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) technology—to institutions such as the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic in the U.S., as well as Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden. Building on this, the company is striving to enter the top three in the global ultrasound diagnostic device market.

Yoo Kyu-tae, CEO of Samsung Medison, stated, “This expansion of the Hongcheon plant is a significant turning point that goes beyond simply expanding production facilities; it elevates our manufacturing competitiveness in the global medical device market to the next level,” adding, “We will contribute to medical professionals and patients worldwide through uncompromising quality and a stable supply of equipment.”

In a video congratulatory message delivered that day, Noh Tae-moon, CEO of SamsungElectronics, remarked, “This expansion, which combines our accumulated ultrasound technology with cutting-edge smart factory processes, will serve as a milestone in securing top-tier global manufacturing competitiveness.”