The first domestic production of CNC (Computer Numerical Control), considered one of the core pieces of equipment in the machinery industry, has been achieved. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 18th, KCNC has succeeded in localizing CNC, which it began developing in 2019.
CNC is a computer system that precisely controls component processing operations such as cutting, milling, and pressing, and is primarily used attached to machines that create machines, known as "machine tools." Although CNC is one of the most important core pieces of equipment in the machinery industry, its development is complicated, resulting in Germany, Japan, and the United States occupying more than 80% of the global market.
The development of CNC technology in Korea began in earnest in 2019, when the importance of the supply chain for materials, parts, and equipment (known as "소부장") was increasing. At that time, Korea was entirely dependent on imports for CNC, raising concerns that a disruption in supply could halt production lines across the manufacturing sector.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy determined that developing CNC is challenging because it requires simultaneous development of various hardware and software technologies. Accordingly, a collaborative development project was initiated, with more than 20 related corporations, research institutes, and academia participating, led by the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials. Related corporations established the joint venture KCNC to ensure successful technology development and commercialization.
After five years of development, KCNC has created a CNC with major performance indicators such as processing error and surface quality that are on par with products from advanced countries.
The government expects this CNC development will contribute significantly to stabilizing the domestic manufacturing supply chain. Currently, the dependence on imported CNC in Korea is over 95%, and even domestic products mostly rely on foreign core technologies. The government and industry believe this development could raise the localization rate to 30% by 2032.
Economic benefits are also anticipated. If 30% of domestic and export volumes are replaced with locally produced CNC, an economic value of approximately 200 billion won per year is expected. Since KCNC is directly in charge of product development and sales, quick after-service and customized product development are also anticipated.
Meanwhile, KCNC plans to start a year-long demonstration for commercialization from next month. This demonstration will test high-speed, repetitive tasks and processing using various materials and tools. Additionally, the durability of the equipment and verification of reliability in real-world environments, rather than in laboratories, will also be conducted.
Moreover, four major demand corporations (DN Solutions, Wia Machine Tool, Hwacheon Machine Tool, SMEC), which account for over 90% of CNC purchasing demand, are all expected to participate in this demonstration. Among them, three corporations submitted "letters of intent" to sign purchase contracts if the demonstration results meet certain conditions. If the demonstration is successfully completed, full-scale sales are expected to begin next year.
A Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy official said, "CNC is the brain of manufacturing equipment and a key component for enhancing productivity like AI factories," adding that "securing advanced CNC will greatly contribute to elevating the competitiveness of our manufacturing industry."