CHALLENGE
In March 2001, Veolia Water Korea signed a contract with Hynix Semiconductor. With its strong cross-disciplinary expertise, Veolia Water provides ultra pure water, potable water and wastewater treatment services on three Hynix sites (Icheon, Cheongju and Gumi) for 17 years.
In October 2004, Hynix handed over its entire facilities in Gumi, and a part of the facilities in Cheongju to Magnachip. Veolia Water continues to supply its services to 3 sites based on the original contract.
Semiconductor chips and LCDs require ultra pure water that must meet extremely stringent standards. The water is used to clean wafers that are extremely sensitive to the contamination of impurities. For this purpose, Veolia Water Korea operates and maintains 18 ultra pure water production facilities for the constant supply of high quality water.
It is essential that our clients receive a constant supply of ultra pure water. Veolia Water guarantees outstanding performance and reliability of its water in terms of quality, quantity and continuity, and has accepted penalties in the case of non-compliance.
This partnership allows our clients to reduce their operating costs considerably.
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OBJECTIVES
- Providing constant supply of ultra pure water through operational risk management, process monitoring and system upgrade with the help of Veolia Water's expertise and know-how
- Reducing operating costs by optimizing and recycling
- Protecting the environment by producing an effluent meeting the quality that surpasses Korean regulation standards
- Providing reliable and secure services through risk management, staff training, health and safety policy
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VEOLIA WATER'S SOLUTION
Meeting the client's expectations
- Operating one of the largest ultra pure water treatment facilities in the world to supply Hynix with ultra pure water in sufficient quantity and perfect quality for the production of semiconductors
- Optimizing the process and implementing exhaustive audit: for cost efficiency and quality enhancement. An exhaustive audit of the system has been carried out by Veolia Water experts followed by the implementation of recommended actions. Furthermore, throughout the contract period, regular investigations are conducted. As a result Veolia Water has increased the efficiency, technical performance and reliability at its plants and has achieved significant upgrades in the facilities
Reliability and security
Veolia water aims to avoid water supply disruptions affecting the entire production process. Veolia Water uses several tools to secure its operations.
- Continuous monitoring of the quality and of the process.
- Achieving continuous operation by removing problems of facilities with continuous improvement
- Operational risk management policy: regular and exhaustive risk assessment conducted by Veolia Water experts and corresponding corrective actions, staff training to emergency situations.
- Implementing Legionella audit and preventive actions to prevent the hygienic issue from developing in the cooling system
- Establishing Health and Safety policy: safety audits, staff training and operation procedure.
As a result of Veolia Water Korea's efforts, we have received the ISO 9001 certification for all of our Hynix sites in 2003, and achieved integrated certifications (ISO 9001, 14001 & OHSAS 18001) in 2008.
Protecting the environment
- Operating state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facilties to meet the legal standards on the quality of treated wastewater
- Reducing costs and protecting the environment: Up to 60% of the process water is recycled.
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