The manufacturing industry might not be the only contributor to environmental pollution, but they are one of the largest. Some claim that factories are to blame for two-thirds of the world’s pollution that has caused the current climate change affecting most parts of the world. Korea’s industrialization since the mid-1970s has seen the manufacturing industry play a large role in driving the economy but has primarily contributed to the country’s pollution. A study by NASA in 2017 found that South Korea had the second-worst air quality of all the advanced nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Despite continued government efforts to curb the amount of pollution these factories pump into the environment and there is still so much that has to change if we value our planet.

Korean startup Dasoori seeks to change all that through processing metal with water. Founded in July 2014, the firm has pioneered metal production by producing eco-friendly cutting water instead of cutting oil used in metal processing. The startup’s ‘seven zero’ product aims to save the environment by reducing the harmful effects of cutting oil, thereby making the industry safer and cleaner. Apart from conserving their environment, their product reduces wastewater management costs and odor complaints and protects the firm’s environment since its main product is water and not oil.

Seven Zero – Processing with water 

The problem with using oil in metal production is that it causes rust on vital parts of the machine; it produces a foul odor, and it’s easily flammable puts the worksite and workers at risk. Oil also causes worker’s health to deteriorate due to exposure to the hazardous and volatile substances oil produces and leads to environmental pollution when its disposed of. Seven Zero acts as a substitute that eliminates the harmful effects of cutting oil used to reduce frictional heat during metal processing. It has the functions of cutting oil lubrication, cooling, and rust prevention, but it is environmentally friendly and electrolyzed pure water that does not harm workers’ health. Seven Zero is manufactured based on electrolyzed water and named cutting water. The product is highly biodegradable, and firms can salvage up to 95% of the product after treatment. Currently, it’s the only environmentally certified product among domestic metal manufacturers with two related patents. 

The Seven Zero product is readily incorporated into the manufacturing process, with the firm’s only need to use R/O equipment to manufacture distilled water. The water is then electrolyzed and added to distilled water and a vegetable emulsion, which acts as an additive to form cutting water. Using cutting water solves numerous manufacturing processes, such as the residual oil produced by available coolants, which causes obstacles during plating, welding, and post-treatment. On the other hand, cutting water completely solves this problem since the pure electrolyzed water doesn’t leave any residuals on the machine. Companies using the Seven Zero product can forget about replacing their coolant due to corruption since cutting water only needs to be supplemented.  

Future goals

Dasoori is making inroads in Korea’s manufacturing industry through strategic partnerships and promotions. Seven Zero Cutting Machine was selected in the 2020 Priority Purchase Recommendation Project for excellent inventions organized by the Korean Intellectual Property Office and in charge of KIPA (Korea Invention Promotion Association). The company was selected as the 8th LG Social Fellow and played a support project for the KDB Nanum Foundation. With continued support from local and international partnerships, Dasoori is destined to go international. 

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