Established in 2020, a smart device startup
Researching eco-friendly ship products with Korea Maritime University
Main product: ‘Smart Air Safe’
Ship air purification and sterilization system
Certified with AIP, KR Class, and selected as an innovative product
Follow-up product: ‘Clean Air Safe’
Advantageous for installation without external power supply
UV-C lamp certified for bacteria reduction
Dual filter with 98.94% deodorization performance
Installed by domestic and international shipping companies with additional orders
Presenting a vision as an eco-friendly global company
Visiting the Fourth Industrial Revolution Field (69) – ENFAC S&G
Due to structural uniqueness, ships circulate indoor and outdoor air mainly through mechanical air conditioning systems rather than natural ventilation. Consequently, the ship’s air conditioning systems and ducts often accumulate dust and bacteria over long periods, causing crew members to take temporary measures using nonwoven fabrics or paper. Selected by the Ulsan Creative Economy Innovation Center for the Shipbuilding and Marine Startup Win-Win Platform, ENFAC S&G has been actively developing and supplying shipboard air sterilization and purification systems to improve onboard air quality and protect crew safety from viruses.
ENFAC S&G’s flagship product, the shipboard air sterilization and purification system ‘Smart Air Safe’ (left), and its follow-up product ‘Clean Air Safe.’
Shipboard Air Sterilization and Purification System ‘Smart Air Safe’
ENFAC S&G (CEO Myungsoo Kim) is a startup established in 2020 in the smart device manufacturing sector as a joint subsidiary of ENFAC KOREA and Korea Maritime University Technology Holdings Co., Ltd. ENFAC S&G collaborates with Korea Maritime University to research and develop eco-friendly smart devices for ships. Its flagship product is the ‘Smart Air Safe,’ launched in 2022.
Smart Air Safe is a smart shipboard air purification and sterilization system that simultaneously removes viruses, bacteria, odors, and fine dust. It provides clean and safe air in response to social demands for protecting against viral risks and improving indoor air quality.
Smart Air Safe was specifically developed to address the structural challenges of ship interiors, where air circulates solely through the air conditioning system. The system features a three-stage air sterilization and purification process: stage one uses a UV-C lamp for sterilization, followed by a dual Carbon & HEPA filter that removes fine dust and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Smart Air Safe has obtained Basic Design Approval (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and certification from the Korean Register (KR), and was selected as an innovative product by the Public Procurement Service in 2022.
The follow-up product, ‘Clean Air Safe,’ is a more compact air purification filter system for ships, equipped with dual Carbon and HEPA filters, offering excellent removal of fine dust and VOCs. A major advantage of Clean Air Safe is that it can be installed without a power supply, making maintenance easier. Customers can select from various options depending on the shipboard location.
Proven Installation and Technology on Public Research Vessels and Domestic and International Shipping Companies
Korea Maritime & Ocean University’s training ship Hanara equipped with ENFAC S&G’s ‘Smart Air Safe.’
ENFAC S&G’s distinctive technology centers on the ‘UV-C lamp’ and the dual filter system (Carbon & HEPA filter). The UV-C lamp is certified by the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL) for up to 99.8% reduction of airborne viruses and bacteria. It operates at a wavelength of 254 nm, which does not produce ozone but delivers strong sterilization power by effectively destroying bacterial DNA and RNA with relatively low energy consumption.
The dual Carbon & HEPA filter has also received approval from KTL for effective deodorization of five major harmful substances (ammonia, acetic acid, acetaldehyde, toluene, and formaldehyde). It earned a 98.94% deodorization performance certification from FITI Testing & Research Institute and demonstrated high efficiency in removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine dust.
Based on this technological capability, ENFAC S&G’s products have been installed on training and research vessels, patrol boats, and naval ships at government and public institutions such as the Coast Guard, Navy, Busan Customs, Korea Maritime & Ocean University, Korea Maritime and Fisheries Training Institute, Korea Polar Research Institute, Mokpo National Maritime University, and Kunsan National University.
Internationally, installations include Greek shipping companies Chacos (tanker) and Danaos (container), and domestically on vessels of Hyundai LNG Shipping (LNG carriers) and Woorim Shipping (chemical tankers). Additional orders continue to be placed based on crew satisfaction.
ENFAC S&G embraces the 3G management philosophy — Green, Global, Great — and envisions becoming a leading eco-friendly global shipbuilding company.
CEO Myungsoo Kim stated, “We continuously devote ourselves to R&D aligned with global trends in the shipbuilding and marine industry. In particular, we keep investing in developing onboard environmental improvement technologies for the health and safety of crew and passengers. Our ultimate goal is to become the top company in ship engineering services and a leader in air and water quality solutions for ships.”
— Source: Ulsan Economic Daily —
