Hyosung Heavy Industries completed a new ultra-high-voltage circuit breaker plant in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, on Friday to meet rising global demand for power equipment.
Hyosung Vice Chairman Lee Sang-woon, Rep. Heo Seong-moo of the Democratic Party of Korea, Rep. Kim Jong-yang of the People Power Party, and Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute President Kang Sang-hee attended the opening ceremony.
The 18,996-square-meter plant will manufacture 420 kV, 550 kV and 800 kV export models. Hyosung has reorganized its existing Changwon operations to focus on domestic products, separating production by market. The new site integrates component manufacturing, assembly, testing and shipping.
The expansion doubles capacity for circuit breakers rated at 420 kV and above, along with insulation components. which Hyosung manufactures in-house.
The investment comes amid rising demand for power infrastructure driven by AI data center expansion. Chairman Cho Hyun-joon has called for early supply chain investment to address growing pressure on global power grids.
Hyosung began developing circuit breakers in 1978 with a 170-kV gas model. In 2024, cumulative circuit breaker production reached 10 trillion won ($7.4 billion). The company plans to expand supplies to major markets through the new export plant and manufacturing facilities in India and the US.
In June, Hyosung established a joint venture with US infrastructure solutions provider Quanta to produce ultra-high-voltage circuit breakers locally. It has also invested $300 million in its Memphis, Tennessee, transformer plant, where an ongoing expansion is expected to significantly increase production capacity.
In Europe, Hyosung plans to deepen ties with local power technology institutions through its research and development center in the Netherlands and expand sales of environmentally friendly and customized products.
jyoungseon8@heraldcorp.com