Ahn Jae-woo is the head of the Component Solution R&D Lab at LG’s Home Appliance Solution Company. The manager has over two decades of experience in compressor development. He joined LG Electronics in 2000 after studying mechanical engineering and refrigeration & air conditioning. “I began my career – he explains – in the Rotary Development Team within the Air Conditioning Compressor Business Division. Over the past 25 years, I’ve been involved in developing core technologies and expanding platforms across rotary, scroll and reciprocating compressors. Since 2024, I’ve led the R&D Lab, focusing on advancing LG’s next generation of high-efficiency compressors”.
Ahn Jae-woo talks about the evolving role of LG’s Component Solution Business and about the Lab’s strengths in cross-functional R&D. Besides, he shows how AI, automation and sustainability are driving the future of compressor and motor innovation.
What is the Component Solution Business?
We are an independent division within LG’s HS Company, specializing in customized compressor and motor solutions. Over the years, we’ve earned a strong global reputation as a trusted innovation partner. Our technologies support a wide range of applications – from home appliances and refrigeration to HVAC and mobility.
With more than six decades of expertise in compressor and motor technology, LG is equipped to meet the evolving needs of diverse industries. In the past decade alone, we’ve achieved double-digit growth, solidifying our role as a critical pillar of LG’s B2B business.
Today, we operate six fully-functional global sites – in Korea, India, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico – that combine R&D, production and sales altogether. In addition, we maintain sales hubs in the U.S. and Japan, further strengthening our global presence and customer responsiveness.
What makes the Component Solution R&D Lab stand out?
What sets our R&D Lab apart is our deep integration with LG’s broader R&D ecosystem across both the HS and ES Companies – covering products like refrigerators, air conditioners, washers and dryers. This close collaboration allows us to rapidly develop and fine-tune compressors and motors tailored to specific product needs.
Very few organizations globally can match our capabilities in developing the full range of compressor types – rotary, scroll, reciprocating and linear. This breadth of expertise fosters a cross-disciplinary culture that accelerates innovation.
We focus not just on enhancing performance, but also on reimagining design – creating form factors that inspire new functions. Technologies like the Direct Drive Motor, Linear Compressor and R1 Compressor were all born from this philosophy. Our innovations reflect customer values such as efficiency, reliability and adaptability – advancing the entire industry in the process.
But beyond technical prowess, it’s our spirit of innovation that truly defines us. We are committed to pioneering component structures and movements never before seen in the industry – establishing new benchmarks and core technologies that lead the transformation of the component landscape.
LG Component Solution has world-class automation. Can you share more?
Automation has been a key enabler of our operational transformation. A major milestone came in 2024 with the launch of our Super Gap Compressor Line, which raised our automation rate to over 80%.
By automating our scroll compressor production, we’ve significantly enhanced productivity and consistency – without increasing costs. Precision is one of the biggest gains, minimizing human error and improving overall product quality and reliability.
We’re now working to expand automation across more processes and facilities, boosting our global competitiveness and delivering even higher standards of excellence.
Have AI technologies changed LG’s compressor and motor products?
Absolutely. AI and big data are accelerating the development of smarter, more efficient compressors and motors. In the design phase, AI enables advanced simulations that enhance durability, performance and efficiency. More importantly, it allows our components to respond intelligently to real–world conditions.
While we previously focused on maximizing appliance performance, we’re now designing for what we call an “Effortless Life”. AI enables our systems to learn from users and adjust based on their behaviors and environments – delivering smarter performance and greater energy savings.
Ultimately, AI is helping us develop components that are not just high-performing, but intelligent and sustainable.
ESG and sustainability are more important than ever. What progress has the R&D Lab made?
Sustainability has been a top priority under my leadership. We’ve introduced several initiatives to reduce carbon emissions throughout our manufacturing processes. For example, we now use low–temperature pre–treatment liquids and paints for compressor painting, significantly lowering emissions compared to traditional methods. We’re also upgrading paint drying ovens with high–efficiency burners to further reduce energy consumption.
Through these and other efforts, we’re working to shrink our carbon footprint and demonstrate our commitment to responsible, sustainable innovation.
