There is a "Big League Exhibition" in the safety and health field, such as the Olympics and World Championships. It is the world's largest industrial safety and health exhibition, held every two years to achieve a "safe workplace," called "A+A 2023," which will open on October 24th in Düsseldorf, Germany.

This exhibition, where over 2,000 companies from around the world present innovative products and receive evaluations, is garnering significant attention. More than 50 "Representative Players" will participate in fierce marketing battles in South Korea to promote the "Safe Korea" brand.

Internet newspaper SafeTimes has prepared a special 8th-anniversary feature series titled "Preview of A+A 2023." The editorial board has selected outstanding companies and visited them to examine the products they are exhibiting at the event. SafeTimes has also dispatched reporters to cover detailed news about the A+A 2023 exhibition. [Editor's Note]

■ Jang Eun FnC, Creating a 'Safe Workplace' with the Fusion of IT and Fashion

Jang Eun Jung, the CEO of Jang Eun FnC, is leading the development of "smartwear" that combines IT and fashion at the age of 51. When SafeTimes visited the Jang Eun FnC headquarters in Bangbae-dong, Seoul, on the 18th, it was evident from the entrance that something special was happening.

In September, the office relocated from Munjeong-dong, and the presence of congratulatory flower arrangements marked the company's progress. Notable figures had high hopes for the "emergency" from this new nest.

Jang, the CEO, began her career in 1993 at Youngwon Trading and held positions as the head of design and executive before founding her company in 2018. She is well-known in the design industry for her involvement in launching the North Face brand in South Korea.

With a bac㎏round in fashion from her university days and a Ph.D. in Fashion Arts, she currently serves as an adjunct professor at Sungkyunkwan University, mentoring the next generation. She can be described as a "specialist" who bridges the gap between academia and industry.

Using her own name as the company's name indicates her strong self-confidence and belief in her abilities. It's safe to say that her expectations have not been misplaced.

◇ The Success Story of the 'Heating Vest' with the Innovative Idea of Separable Pads

Wearing a deep burgundy dress, the designer and professor who created the product for the interview seemed quite intriguing and thought-provoking.

Everything about her was unconventional. She frequently crossed the boundaries between being a designer, an engineer, and a professor. The interview felt like listening to a compelling movie or lecture that harmonized her convictions and philosophy.

The company she had cultivated, enriched with 30 years of expertise and passion, was a masterful fusion of fashion, IT, and safety.

The reason she challenged the A+A 2023 stage after founding her company in 2018 was simple and clear. She believed she had acquired enough skill and ability not only to surpass domestic success but also to knock on the door of the global stage.

The product that CEO Jang will unveil at A+A combines IT with heating and cooling elements. It's a challenge to the big league A+A after validation on the domestic stage.

"There were heating vests in the market already, and many products combining IT existed. However, since the pads were integrated, there was a downside to safety after washing. If the functionality deteriorated after washing, can we really call it a good product?"

With CEO Jang's skepticism, a new concept of a 'heating vest' was born. Through collaboration with KAIST researchers, the separable heating vest made its debut in the market.

CEO Jang mentioned, "There is nowhere else in Korea where products with separable heating pads can be made," adding, "We own over 10 intellectual property rights alone."

In industrial settings where withstanding extreme cold is crucial for ensuring safety and carrying out economic activities, the separable pads proved to be a big success. The separable heating vest consistently achieves record-breaking sales, selling out within just a month or two since its release every year.

The SafeTimes reporting team meticulously examined the heating vest with CEO Jang's detailed explanations. It was a vest that could elevate the dignity of workers in industries and construction sites. Safety managers couldn't help but want to have it for themselves. It was lightweight, stylish, high-performing, and reasonably priced.

There was a reason why the Korea Consumer Agency rated Jang Eun FnC's products, including the heating vest, as the 'Best Product' after randomly collecting and testing heating products available in the market. The Korea Institute of Design Promotion also selected it as an excellent industrial design product.

Jang Eun FnC, which has caused a sensation in the smartwear market by combining IT with fashion, will unveil its "4th generation heating vest" at A+A in 2024.

CEO Jang stated, "We addressed one of the issues with heating products, which was their washability, by developing a separable heating pad from a design perspective." She added, "This product features a unique 3-panel heating pad, differentiating it from existing heating products, allowing separate temperature control for the front and back panels. We have even applied for international patents for this design."

◇ 'Ice Vest' Also Praised... Investment in Research and Development for the Future

The success of the heating vest was just the starting point for creating another legend. Smartwear, combined with IT, evolved into the 'Ice Vest.'

As a leading company in the field of ICT-converged design products, leveraging their expertise and technological capabilities in heating product development, they also developed ICT-converged cooling functional products. They delivered nurse ice vests to the Korean Medical Association of Nursing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They hold intellectual property rights related to cooling functional apparel products and received the 2021 Excellent Patent Award in South Korea.

CEO Jang stated, "While making heating products, I thought it might be possible to create something that cools as well." She added, "We tried applying frozen ice packs to the products, which had a good response, but they didn't last very long."

Ice packs have evolved with upgrades such as fans and air conditioning. Jang Eun FnC has developed a "wearable air conditioner" to address noise caused by wind. It operates on the principle of using thermoelectric cooling with a "Peltier effect." They have applied for patents and are gearing up for market release.

Jang Eun FnC, which primarily focuses on ODM and OEM, has gained significant attention in the industrial safety sector. Their deliveries to companies like K2 Safety and Black Yak have accelerated their entry into the mid-sized enterprise market. They are expanding their clientele beyond everyday wear, including golf apparel and their recent launch, 'Pipa.'

◇ Aspiring to Become a Leading Company Beyond Being a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) in ESG

The future of Jang Eun FnC can be seen in its investment in technology research. They are actively engaged in new technology research projects in collaboration with prestigious universities and research institutes in South Korea. In addition to providing research and consulting services on the new business direction of brand launching and renewal, they have recognized the importance of certification in the emerging field of smart clothing, especially due to the continuous presence of uncertified products from China in the domestic market that raises safety concerns. Starting in 2021, they have been working with the Korea Testing & Research Institute for Industrial Technology (KOTITI) on the development of international standards for wearable and wireless electronic heating products.

Interestingly, their prowess in smart clothing has received more recognition abroad. They are involved in a Joint Government Development Project between South Korea and Switzerland. This research and development project includes developing technology for action-induced recognition based on electrocorticography (ECoG) signals and soft robotic control technology for action induction.

CEO Jang Eun Jung explained, "The joint development project involves creating clothing that can be worn by people with disabilities or those who require extra strength, allowing them to move their arms or legs through sensors. It's based on data measured by Lozen Federal Polytechnic, often called the European MIT, which sends brain signal data. The Electronics and Teleco㎜unications Research Institute and circuit designers attach the sensors to the clothing."

Using data on which nerves need to be stimulated to move the arm, people with disabilities who wear the clothing can use it for remote work or rehabilitation therapy. They have obtained certification in Switzerland and are proposing the establishment of a joint venture with plans for companies to be set up in Switzerland and South Korea. This will lead to the full-scale expansion of their business.

ESG management is also a prominent aspect of their operations. CEO Jang holds a Ph.D. in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Creating Shared Value (CSV).

CEO Jang's business philosophy is evident throughout the company. They actively engage in charitable activities, donating between KRW 60 million and KRW 100 million annually to the charity organization Goodwillstore. All employees also actively participate in volunteer activities.

"Although I write papers emphasizing a company's social responsibility and teach at a university, isn't it possible to have two sides to business management?"

A heartfelt statement from CEO Jang. With Jang Eun FnC's innovation in safety, all eyes are on what kind of results they will achieve at A+A.

■ Jang Eun Jung, CEO of Jang Eun FnC ▲Born in 1972 ▲Master's degree in Fashion Arts from Chung-Ang University (2011) ▲Ph.D. in Fashion Arts from Chung-Ang University (2016) ▲Worked at Youngwon Trading (1994-2003) and launched The North Face in South Korea ▲Worked at GS Cosmo S&F (2003-2008) Phoenix ▲Worked at LG Networks (2008-2010) for Prospecs repositioning and launching ▲Worked at Safe Trading (2010-2016) for Tuscarora ▲Led the expansion of GS Group's Korean brand, PHENIX, in Japan (2016-2018) ▲Received the Minister's Award for Technological Innovation Contribution (2022) ▲Received the Chairman's Award for South Korea Volunteer Service (2022) ▲Received the South Korea Volunteer Service Award (2022)

■ Jang Eun FnC History ▲Establishment of Jang Eun FnC and co㎜encement of exports (2018) ▲Establishment of Jang Eun FnC Corporation ▲Certification as a Women-Owned Business ▲Establishment of the Corporate Design Research Institute ▲ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications (2019) ▲Selection as a Promising Design Innovation Company ▲Recognition of Most Outstanding Products by the Korea Consumer Agency ▲Certification as a Venture Company (2020) ▲Selection as an Excellent Industrial Design Product ▲Receipt of the South Korea Excellent Patent Award (2021) ▲Certification as a Technological Innovation SME ▲Certification as a Management Innovation SME ▲Selection as an Excellent Design Specialized Company ▲PMS Level 4 Certification ▲Certification as a Family-Friendly Company (2022) ▲Selection for the Export Voucher Program for Promising Export Companies ▲Selection as a Promising Leading Company in Seoul's Four Major Future Growth Industries ▲High Seoul Company Certification (2023)

■ Intellectual Property Owned by Jang Eun FnC ▲Design registration for heating vests ▲Utility model registration for heating vests ▲Design registration for anti-freeze covers for water meters ▲Patent application for IoT-based smart heating wear ▲PCT application for IoT-based smart heating wear ▲Design registration for ice vests ▲Patent registration for ice vests equipped with cooling fans ▲Patent registration for anti-freeze covers for water meters ▲Patent registration for smart heating vests ▲Design registration for smart heating vests ▲Design application for smart heating vests ▲Design application for multifunctional spades ▲Design application for multipurpose spades

☞ [Preview A+A 2023] 장은에프앤씨 '발열조끼' 안전품격 높이다