[INTERVIEW] Neontech sees business growth in drone market dominated by Chinese products

By Lim Chang-won Posted : December 11, 2019, 15:48 Updated : December 11, 2019, 15:48

[Courtesy of Neontech]


SEOUL -- Helped by a government campaign to nurture the drone industry in the era of 5G, Neontech, a system manufacture for mechanical dicing and automation equipment, is trying to find an opportunity of growth in South Korea's drone market dominated by Chinese companies.

Neontech, established in 2000 as an intermediary seller to buy foreign products and sell them to domestic equipment companies, has expanded its business area to equipment production. By distributing Chinese drones from 2015, Neontech CEO Hwang Seong-il has developed independent drone technology.

"When I wanted to explore new business areas after laying a stable business foundation through the distribution of parts and equipment businesses, the technology that caught my attention was an industrial drone," Hwang told Aju Business Daily.

In 2018, Neontech developed Ndrone, a comprehensive drone platform that is needed for the operation of industrial drones for defense, fire fighting, logistics and pest control. Neontech's reconnaissance drones are now used by soldiers and customs officials, and the company plans to commercialize a smart drone solution for firefighters.

"Neontech is the only domestic company that can develop navigation software and hardware design and mass-production for multi-drones simultaneously," Hwang said, expressing confidence about Neontech's technology in industrial drones.

Demands for drones will rise in South Korea, which has a good environment for operating drones due to fast wireless networks and ICT infrastructure. Chinese drones account for almost 80 percent of South Korea's leisure industry, but Hwang thinks it is difficult to use Chinese drones at public organizations and military units where national security is important.

Neontech has developed a technology in which multiple drones are operated simultaneously for one mission. Military officials have proposed the idea of developing a mother drone capable of carrying small drones that can stage separate attacks on designated targets.

"Drones are an industry with the highest growth potential in the 5G era," Hwang said, adding 5G would provide an opportunity for the drone industry to introduce artificial intelligence and automatic operation. Neontech has partnered with LGU+ to provide 5G industrial drone solutions. Based on data collected by drones that utilize 5G infrastructure, Hwang plans to create drone software and management systems for agriculture, fisheries and logistics.

(This story was based on an interview conducted by Aju Business Daily reporter Yoon Kyung-jin) 
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