LG’s ‘Hack for Heat’ Finale Points to Exciting, Sustainable Future for HVAC
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By News Reporter
Partnership to Enhance Company’s High-performance Heat Pump Solutions for Cold Climates,
Lay Groundwork for the Development of Next-generation Technologies
SEOUL, Sep. 3, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) is completing its global R&D triangle with the establishment of the Chinese Consortium for Advanced Heat Pump Research (CCAHR) in Harbin. The consortium, which joins existing LG-led initiatives in North America and Europe, will develop next-generation core technologies for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions capable of providing strong, dependable performance in extreme cold conditions.
To mark the official launch of CCAHR, LG held a signing ceremony on August 31 (local time) at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, China. Prominent members of the consortium include the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and Xi’an Jiao Tong University (XJTU), all of which are actively researching HVAC technologies and systems designed for cold climates. The consortium will operate new research facilities in Harbin and Mohe City to develop strong and reliable HVAC solutions, helping LG to deliver products customized to local needs, and strengthen its presence in the Chinese market.
Harbin, known for its harsh winter conditions, and Mohe, where temperatures can drop to below minus 50 degrees Celsius, provide ideal settings for advancing LG’s research into heat pump technologies that can maintain high efficiency in severely cold climates. CCHAR will conduct tests on the company’s HVAC solutions, including residential air conditioners, at two facilities: a university-owned building at the Harbin Institute of Technology campus, and a residential site in Mohe. The consortium will gather comprehensive operational data to improve the heating performance, energy efficiency and overall reliability of LG’s HVAC products.
CCAHR is a significant addition to LG’s growing international program of heat pump R&D collaboration, complementing LG-led consortiums established in Korea and the U.S. last November, and in Europe this June. With its trio of consortiums, LG has built a robust R&D infrastructure spanning North America, Europe and Asia, and will be able to develop technologies suited to the unique demands of each region’s climatic and housing conditions. The R&D triangle will play a major role in further solidifying the company’s global leadership in HVAC technology.
Moreover, during a recent CEO-led
link hidden, please login to view, LG outlined four key strategies for business portfolio innovation, including the acceleration of its B2B capabilities – particularly in the area of HVAC. By leveraging its advanced inverter, heat pump and chiller technologies, LG aims to lead the market in high-efficiency HVAC solutions, while actively targeting the growing demand for cooling systems, especially in AI data centers. Additionally, in key markets, LG’s HVAC business is establishing a locally self-sufficient operation system encompassing the in-house production of core components and the creation of production bases optimized for regional supply. This system, which covers everything from R&D to sales and maintenance, greatly enhances LG’s B2B capabilities and is expected to support meaningful long-term growth.
“We are committed to developing next-generation heat pump technologies tailored to diverse climates,” said James Lee, head of the Air Solution Business Unit at LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. “Through our R&D initiatives, we will strengthen our ability to provide differentiated solutions for each region, and reinforce our product and technology leadership in the global HVAC market.”
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By News Reporter
LG Electronics CEO William Cho, in an exclusive interview with Bloomberg, discussed the company’s business strategy, growth areas, and the competitiveness of LG’s AI. Cho highlighted the focus on expanding B2B, subscription services, and its webOS-based advertising and content business to drive growth.
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By News Reporter
Driving Business Portfolio Innovation to Maximize the Potential of Key Business Areas
and Advance B2B, Platform-Based and Emerging Ventures
SEOUL, Aug. 21, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) is rapidly evolving into a “Smart Life Solution Company” by leveraging its decades of customer insight, manufacturing expertise and technological prowess as a leader in home appliances. As part of its mid- to long-term strategy, “Future Vision 2030,” LG is committed to ongoing transformation and growth.
On August 21, LG hosted an investor forum at LG Sciencepark in Seoul, bringing together domestic and international investors and analysts. During the event, CEO William Cho outlined the company’s progress and strategic direction since the announcement of Future Vision 2030 last year, emphasizing key achievements. The forum was also streamed live on
link hidden, please login to view. In addition to CEO William Cho, the event was attended by CFO Kim Chang-tae, CSO Lee Sam-soo and other top executives responsible for key business areas such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), webOS content & services and subscription business. The event aimed to communicate the progress and plans of LG’s mid- to long-term strategy directly to the market, ensuring greater transparency.
Following the announcement of the 2030 Future Vision and the shareholders’ meeting, LG continues to engage with the market and stakeholders through direct communication from the CEO and key business leaders, as demonstrated in this investor forum.
Under the Future Vision 2030 plan, LG aims to become a “Smart Life Solution Company” by connecting and enhancing customer experiences across various living spaces, including homes, commercial environments, mobility and virtual platforms. To achieve this, the company plans to accelerate the transformation of its business portfolio towards a more future-oriented model. The goal is to achieve the “Triple Seven” targets: a 7 percent average growth rate, 7 percent operating profit and an enterprise multiple (EV/EBITDA) of 7.
At the event, LG shared its interim financial progress under Future Vision 2030, revealing an 8 percent increase in revenue, a 6 percent operating profit and a fourfold growth in EV/EBITDA compared to the previous year, based on the first half of this year’s business performance (excluding LG Innotek).
“Over the past year, we have been steadily laying the foundation for achieving our future vision, and we take pride in creating ‘structural changes’ and ‘sustainable outcomes’ in various areas,” said CEO Cho. “With strong confidence and a sense of responsibility, we will continue to advance towards our goals.”
Four Strategic Directions for Business Portfolio Innovation
CEO Cho detailed LG’s approach to business portfolio innovation, focusing on four key directions: maximizing the full potential of existing key businesses, expanding platform-based service models, accelerating the growth of B2B and fostering New-to-LGE businesses.
The first direction of maximizing the full potential of current businesses involves a strategy to overcome the limitations of mature core businesses, such as home appliances and TVs. This includes integrating subscription services into its home appliance offerings and expanding direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales channels, providing customers with more choices and enhanced experiences.
CEO Cho explained that these efforts are leading to steady growth and profit generation in core businesses, which serve as cash cows for the company. Despite a double-digit decline in the Korean home appliance market, LG’s domestic appliance sales are on the rise, driven by the creation of new demand through subscription services. In addition, overseas home appliance sales have grown more than 1.5 times faster than the market average over the past three years, driven by expanded product and price lines and D2C sales.
Second, expanding platform-based service models focuses on leveraging the hundreds of millions of LG products sold worldwide as a platform to generate revenue from content, advertising and services. A prime example is LG Home Entertainment Company’s TV business, which aims to accelerate the webOS advertising and content business with the goal of transforming the company into a media and entertainment platform powerhouse. Since 2018, the annual growth rate of the webOS platform-based advertising and content business has reached 64 percent.
In terms of accelerating the growth of B2B businesses, LG is achieving significant results in areas such as vehicle components, HVAC and smart factories. These advancements are closely aligned with market inflection points like digitalization and electrification. LG aims to increase the B2B share of its total revenue to over 45 percent by 2030. The B2B share, which was 27 percent in 2021, has already risen to 35 percent in the first half of this year.
LG’s vehicle component solutions business has secured an order backlog exceeding KRW 100 trillion (USD 74 billion), with sales of high-value products like digital cockpits growing rapidly. The company is also expanding its global production footprint to support this growth. In the HVAC sector, LG leads the high-efficiency market with its advanced inverter and heat pump technologies, and it is actively targeting the cooling systems market for AI data centers, where demand is surging. LG also has plans to expand its smart factory business into industries with rising factory automation needs, such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and food & beverages.
The company continues to invest in promising new business areas that will serve as the foundation for future growth. In the commercial robotics sector, LG is focusing on securing AI-driven, software-defined robotics capabilities. For the electric vehicle charging business, LG is collaborating with leading global partners to seize business opportunities.
Portfolio Innovation Yields Emerging Unicorn Ventures
LG also highlighted the success and growth potential of key businesses that have become core engines of the company’s future growth, showcasing significant results from its portfolio innovation.
“Inspired by the term ‘unicorn’ used to describe ventures valued at over KRW 1 trillion (USD 740 million) in the market, we refer to new business models generating annual sales of over KRW 1 trillion (USD 740 million) as ‘unicorn businesses,’” said CEO Cho. “Our home appliance subscription service surpassed KRW 1 trillion (USD 740 million) in annual sales last year, securing its status as a ‘unicorn business.’ Additionally, several seed businesses, which are expected to become the next unicorns in the near future, are accelerating their growth.”
Home Appliance Subscription Business Achieves Unicorn Status
LG is pioneering a paradigm shift in the home appliance business by combining services with its home appliances through a subscription model. Unlike traditional product-centric models that generate one-time sales, the subscription model maintains ongoing customer relationships, offering optimized care services post-purchase, thereby generating continuous revenue.
Last year, the subscription business achieved KRW 1.134 trillion (approximately USD 840 million) in annual revenue, marking a 33 percent growth over the previous year and securing its place as a unicorn business. This growth is accelerating, with revenue expected to rise by nearly 60 percent this year to exceed KRW 1.8 trillion (USD 1.3 billion).
The rapid growth of LG’s home appliance subscription business is driven by its ability to meet diverse customer needs. Customers can lower their initial purchase burden and maintain their appliances in top condition with expert care services for the desired duration, with free services provided during the subscription period. Customer responses highlight the high value of the subscription business, with its share of LG’s domestic home appliance sales rising from 15 percent last year to over 20 percent this year.
webOS-Based Advertising & Content Business Set to Become the Next Unicorn
LG’s webOS-based advertising and content business leverages millions of devices worldwide as a platform to generate additional revenue streams. This year, revenue is expected to exceed KRW 1 trillion (USD 740 million), a fourfold increase compared to 2021. To sustain this rapid growth, LG is focusing on expanding its customer base, diversifying revenue models and strengthening business capabilities.
In platform businesses, the more devices that use the platform, the larger the business scale becomes. LG has sold approximately 220 million smart TVs over the past decade. In addition, LG licenses its webOS to external companies lacking their own operating systems, with non-LG brands having sold over 10 million webOS TVs. The webOS platform is also expanding beyond TVs to include automotive infotainment and smart appliances, with the company securing leading global OEMs as clients for its in-vehicle infotainment systems.
LG provides a variety of content via webOS, operating revenue models based on advertising and services. A prime example is LG Channels, a free, ad-supported streaming service offering over 3,800 channels in 29 countries. LG plans to diversify its services into high-growth areas such as gaming, personalized shopping and Transactional Video On Demand.
To bolster its webOS platform capabilities, LG plans to invest over KRW 1 trillion (USD 740 million) by 2027. The company will continue collaborating with more than 4,000 global content partners and expand tailored advertising solutions through its data analytics subsidiary, Alphonso.
Chiller Business Targets AI Data Center Cooling Market: On Track to Become a Unicorn in Three Years
LG’s HVAC business offers a broad portfolio, ranging from residential air conditioners to commercial systems for large buildings, schools, public institutions and industrial facilities. This is one of LG’s fastest-growing core businesses, driven by market trends like decarbonization and electrification.
The chiller business, which provides cooling solutions for large buildings, has seen new opportunities as global tech giants increase demand for data centers amid the AI boom. Over the past three years, LG’s chiller business has achieved an average annual growth rate of over 15 percent, with overseas sales more than doubling during the same period.
LG plans to leverage its extensive experience in supplying chillers to power plants, data centers and other facilities, along with its high-efficiency core technologies, to actively target the data center cooling market. In addition, LG is preparing to commercialize new solutions, such as liquid immersion cooling, which are gaining traction in the market.
“By 2030, 50 Percent of Total Sales and 75 Percent of Operating Profit Will Come from B2B, Platform-Based and New Businesses”
To achieve its mid- to long-term goals outlined in Future Vision 2030, LG will consistently drive business portfolio innovation. The company aims to generate 50 percent of total sales and 75 percent of operating profit from three key focus areas: expanding platform-based services, accelerating the growth of B2B and nurturing New-to-LGE businesses.
“These goals are rapidly becoming a reality,” said CEO Cho. “We will ensure that LG’s new value proposition is recognized by all stakeholders, securing sustainable growth and profitability over the long term.”
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* Amounts in Korean won (KRW) are translated into U.S. dollars (USD) at the average rate for the six-month period of the year 2024 — KRW 1,349.55 per USD.
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By News Reporter
Hanok, traditional Korean houses, are renowned for their aesthetic beauty construction and harmonious integration with nature. Inspired by this distinctive architectural form – prized for its energy efficiency, natural ventilation and lighting – LG Spain has constructed an AI-powered home named ‘Another Hanok.’ This innovative abode showcases LG’s latest technological and design advancements and highlights some of the ecologically-focused projects undertaken as part of LG Spain’s ‘Smart Green’ movement.
During the Another Hanok opening ceremony, LG reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the global climate response through its ongoing ESG initiatives and sustainable product solutions. The event was attended by 80 guests, including the president of LG Spain, local and Korean government officials and representatives from various partner companies. Since establishing the Smart Green movement in 2017, LG Spain has developed product solutions aimed at reducing environmental harm while encouraging and fostering community engagement.
Efficient Innovations for Sustainable Dwellings
Self-sufficient, connected and sustainably powered, Another Hanok embraces and embodies LG’s Smart Green philosophy. The house produces, stores, saves and shares clean energy, achieving 100 percent energy independence* through the use of LG’s state-of-the-art technologies as a way to reduce its environmental impact.
Leading up to the entrance of Another Hanok is a beautifully designed pathway that inspires feelings of peace and tranquility while reminding visitors of the pressing environmental issues facing our planet. As visitors approach the house, they encounter a variety of interactive displays and installations that spotlight the challenges of reducing carbon emissions and the urgent need for companies and consumers to adopt responsible practices.
Inside, visitors can explore several spaces, each focused on different aspects of sustainable living. From energy-efficient appliances to advanced HVAC systems, Another Hanok demonstrates how LG’s cutting-edge technologies and solutions can help create a net-zero-energy home. The seamless installation of the LG Therma V R290 Monobloc heat pump contributes to the house’s efficient use of power, while ensuring the reliable heating and cooling for visitor comfort. Conveniently, the solution’s energy consumption can be monitored through the ThinQ Energy Service. Additionally, surplus energy produced by the solar panels installed on the roof of Another Hanok is stored in LG’s energy storage system.
Expanding the Smart Green Movement
Launched in 2017, LG Spain’s Smart Green movement is an initiative that continues to help regenerate local environments and ecosystems. The movement’s goals include planting 48 million trees (Smart Green Trees), repopulating 48 million Iberian bees to ensure the pollination of countless endemic plant species (Smart Green Bees), and reviving the health of the Mediterranean Sea (Smart Green Seas).
The ‘Another Life’ Experience
Another Hanok is a part of LG’s ‘Another Life’ series, a collection of offline experience spaces that provide customers with unique opportunities to interact with LG’s lifestyle-enhancing products. Each of these spaces offers a welcoming atmosphere along with compelling displays and exhibits that promote sustainability and responsible technological innovation. Beginning in South Korea in 2022, the series has since expanded internationally with the addition of sites such as ‘Another Saigon’ in Vietnam.
LG views Another Hanok as a new, more-engaging kind of B2B showroom, where its European B2B clients can see first-hand the company’s strong commitment to achieving carbon neutrality. In the spirit of its Life’s Good philosophy, LG will continue to innovate and inspire, leveraging its technology leadership to help usher in a new era of sustainability.
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* Average yearly photovoltaic (PV) power generation at Another Hanok is 22,030 kWh while average monthly power consumption is 16,870kWh. Actual power generation and power usage may vary.
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By News Reporter
With a commitment to creating a better life for all entailing a greener future for everyone, LG is taking all the necessary steps to realizing a healthier planet for future generations. These include designing and executing green initiatives, such as rethinking operational processes and product lifecycles to reduce carbon emissions and waste, as well as developing technologies that promote sustainability and inclusivity.
In line with this overarching mission, LG Indonesia recently launched its ‘Better life for all’ campaigns to inspire the country’s younger generation to adopt sustainable lifestyles. This exciting event focused on promoting a sustainable food culture and raising awareness of food issues in a time when food waste and food insecurity is high in Indonesia.
The country faces an alarming food waste issue, ranking second globally with an annual generation of 20.93 million tons, according to the United Nations Environment Program Food Waste Index Report 2021. This waste results in economic losses ranging from IDR 213 to 551 trillion per year1 and exacerbates food insecurity, with Indonesia ranking 77th out of 125 countries on the 2023 Global Hunger Index.2 LG aspires to fight food waste and insecurity issues by engaging the younger generation, who make up over 50 percent of Indonesia’s population.
The campaign began this March with ‘Better Life Recipe,’ an event in collaboration with renowned chef
link hidden, please login to view. As part of this event, Devina created a recipe designed to minimize food waste. On Instagram and TikTok, she offered her followers a choice between two traditional Korean dishes: a scrumptious bibimbap with taichan sauce and a delicious bulgogi (Korean marinated beef dish). Through a poll, bulgogi emerged as the winning dish, later making another appearance in the campaign. To further raise public awareness and spark conversation, LG ran the ‘Better Life Social Challenge’ – #MaskaPintarLG – encouraging young Indonesians to recreate the zero-food-waste recipe themselves.
Continuing the campaign in April, LG hosted the “Better Life Festival,” an offline program aimed at promoting sustainability by raising public awareness about the adverse effects of food waste.
The two-day festival, held at Chillax Sudirman Jakarta, featured an array of activities, such as green workshops and expert panel discussions, designed to engage and educate attendees. The festival was a resounding success, attracting over 2,000 participants and igniting a passion among Indonesia’s youth for a new era of eco-conscious living. The event was organized into several interactive zones, including ‘Jane’s Boutique,’ ‘Jack’s Open Kitchen’ and ‘CRAFT SHOP,’ each with a unique focus.
‘Jane’s Boutique’ featured the LG Styler, a product that introduced visitors to the benefits of steam-refreshing garments, as well as the LG WashTower. Participants could engage in a quiz on clothing care and sustainable practices, and even create durable bags from recycled banner materials, underscoring LG’s commitment to environmental responsibility. Visitors could also learned about LG’s air purifiers, including the LG PuriCare AeroTower and AeroFurniture – products with components created from recycled plastics.
Next, ‘Jack’s Open Kitchen’ featured cooking demonstrations by Chef Devina Hermawan, who creatively used leftover ingredients to prepare delicious dishes and beverages, such as tea made from imperfect apples, aiming to reduce food waste in Indonesian households.
This zone also featured LG’s diverse array of innovative products that help reduce food waste, such as LG InstaView Door-in-Door refrigerator. This refrigerator allows users to check the contents by knocking twice on the panel without opening the door, preventing the escape of cold air. Featuring cutting-edge innovations such as LinearCooling and DoorCooling technologies, the fridge can extend freshness of stored food and contribute to effective food waste reduction.
Moreover, in partnership with the Badan Pangan Nasional (BAPANAS/National Food Agency), FoodCycle Indonesia and Universitas Prasetiya Mulya – a local university that developed a composting solution for food waste – LG facilitated a broad range of activities to promote sustainable living. A booth was set up for visitors to make food donations, supporting BAPANAS’s Save Food movement to decrease national food waste.
And, as the next leg of the campaign, LG Indonesia organized a food donation drive from May 10-12 in the Jakarta and Tangerang areas. The ‘Better Life Food Distribution’ event was operated by 140 LG Indonesia employees and volunteers the company’s partners, including BAPANAS, Universitas Prasetiya Mulya and FoodCycle Indonesia. To further support community welfare and sustainability efforts, LG and its partners donated a total of 1,500 waste-free meal kits and 1,500 bulgogi lunch boxes – made with the zero waste recipe created by Chef Devina Hermawan earlier in the campaign – to local welfare foundations.
Through this on-going campaign, LG Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to aiding the younger generation adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. The partnership will continue throughout the year with additional interactive activities geared toward Indonesian youth to amplify LG’s mission of providing a ‘Better life for all’ and promoting sustainable living.
Stay tuned to to discover the myriad of ways LG’s forward-thinking subsidiaries are promoting sustainable practices around the world.
Contributed by LG Indonesia in collaboration with H&A Global Brand Team
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