Top 5 Paste Reduction Melting Furnace Suppliers in South Korea [2025]

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Seoul, KERT has earned its reputation as the "elder statesman" of Korean recycling equipment. What sets them apart isn’t just their 20+ years of experience, but their obsession with pushing boundaries. Their flagship paste reduction furnace, the PRMF-5000, is a beast in the best way—handling up to 5,000 kg of lead battery paste per hour while maintaining 99.97% purity in the final lead output. Walk through any KERT installation, and you’ll notice the little details that matter. The furnace’s combustion chamber uses a dual-layer refractory lining that cuts heat loss by 35% compared to standard models, slashing energy bills for operators. Then there’s their integrated de-sulfurization unit, a compact system that removes sulfur compounds before they can become emissions. Clients in Germany and Canada often highlight how this feature alone helped them meet strict EU and North American air quality standards without extra equipment. KERT doesn’t stop at the furnace itself. They pair each unit with a smart monitoring system that tracks temperature, pressure, and emissions in real time, sending alerts to operators’ phones if something deviates. "It’s like having a 24/7 furnace watchdog," laughs Maria Gonzalez, operations manager at a major recycling plant in Mexico City. "We used to have technicians checking gauges hourly; now we just check our tablets." With a global footprint spanning 42 countries and a 5-year warranty that covers parts and labor, KERT is the go-to for large-scale operations that can’t afford downtime.

If KERT is the industry veteran, SMRS is the innovative upstart. Founded in 2012 by a team of ex-Hyundai engineers, this Seoul-based firm has made waves with its "small but mighty" approach. Their flagship model, the SRMF-3000, is designed for mid-sized plants, handling 3,000 kg/h with a footprint 40% smaller than competitors—perfect for urban recycling facilities where space is a premium. What really turns heads is SMRS’s focus on automation. Their furnace comes with a fully integrated filter press system that separates and collects leftover paste residue, turning what was once waste into a secondary product (often sold as raw material for construction materials). The entire process, from loading paste to tapping molten lead, can be controlled with a 10-inch touchscreen panel. "We trained our staff in two days," says Raj Patel, owner of a recycling plant in Bangalore, India. "Before, we had three workers per shift; now one person manages two furnaces." SMRS also shines in adaptability. Unlike many suppliers that offer one-size-fits-all models, they customize the furnace’s combustion system to run on natural gas, propane, or even biogas, depending on local fuel availability. This flexibility has made them popular in regions like East Africa, where energy infrastructure varies widely. Their after-sales support is another win. SMRS maintains a parts warehouse in Singapore, ensuring that replacement components reach clients in Asia within 48 hours. "When a sensor failed during our peak season, SMRS flew a technician to Jakarta with parts the next day," recalls Patel. "That kind of service builds loyalty."

Busan might be better known for its ports than its recycling tech, but BGES is putting the coastal city on the map with its eco-friendly furnaces. Since 2015, they’ve carved a niche by focusing on low-emission designs that appeal to clients prioritizing sustainability over sheer speed. Their PRMF-Eco model processes 2,500 kg/h—slower than KERT’s behemoth, but with emissions so low, it’s earned the coveted Carbon Trust certification from the UK. The secret? BGES’s proprietary air pollution control system, a multi-stage filter that captures 99.8% of particulate matter and 95% of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Instead of releasing exhaust into the air, the system cleans it and recycles heat back into the furnace, boosting efficiency. "We did an environmental audit last year," says Thomas Wright, sustainability director at a recycling cooperative in Australia. "Our BGES furnace had emissions lower than the local bakery’s oven. The auditors couldn’t believe it." BGES also leads in lead recovery rates. Their furnace uses a tilting crucible design that allows for precise pouring, minimizing leftover lead residue in the chamber. This translates to a 5% higher recovery rate than industry averages—adding up to thousands of extra kilograms of lead per month for high-volume plants. While they’re slower than some competitors, BGES makes up for it with durability. Their furnaces have an average lifespan of 12 years, compared to the industry standard of 8, thanks to a stainless steel outer shell and replaceable ceramic heating elements. "We’ve had our first furnace since 2017, and it’s still running like new," says Wright. "We just replaced the heating elements last year—cost us $2,000, which is nothing compared to buying a new furnace."

Daegu, a city long associated with textiles and machinery, is now home to DII, a supplier that’s redefining "user-friendly" in recycling equipment. Founded in 2008, DII specializes in furnaces that don’t require a team of engineers to operate—a game-changer for small to medium plants in emerging markets. Their entry-level model, the DII-1500, processes 1,500 kg/h and can be installed by local technicians with just a 3-day training course. What makes DII unique is their focus on simplicity without sacrificing quality. The furnace uses a single-button start-up sequence, and troubleshooting is guided by a built-in diagnostic tool that displays step-by-step fixes for common issues (e.g., "Check fuel pressure" or "Clean air intake filter"). "We’re in a rural area of Vietnam—finding technicians who know lead furnaces is tough," explains Minh Tran, owner of a family-run recycling business. "DII’s manual has pictures, not just text, and their hotline speaks Vietnamese. We’ve fixed problems ourselves that would’ve shut us down for a week with other brands." DII also offers flexible financing, a rarity in the industry. They partner with local banks to provide 3-year loans with low interest rates, making their furnaces accessible to operators who can’t pay upfront. This approach has made them the top supplier in Southeast Asia, with installations in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia growing 25% year-over-year. Don’t let the simplicity fool you—DII’s furnaces are tough. They’re built with a reinforced steel frame that withstands the vibrations of busy plants, and their insulation is rated to handle temperatures up to 1,800°C without cracking. "We had a monsoon flood last year that submerged the control panel," Tran recalls. "DII sent a new panel, and the furnace was back up in 2 days. It’s like they built it to survive anything."

Rounding out our list is Incheon-based IEE, a supplier that’s all about pushing technological boundaries. Founded in 2015 by materials science PhDs from Seoul National University, IEE has made a name for itself with cutting-edge furnaces that use microwave-assisted heating—yes, you read that right. Their Microwave Paste Reduction Furnace (MPRF-2000) processes 2,000 kg/h using microwave energy, which heats lead paste more evenly than traditional burners, reducing processing time by 20%. The benefits of microwave heating are clear once you see it in action. Traditional furnaces often have hot spots that can burn paste, creating waste. IEE’s system uses computer-controlled microwave emitters that adjust in real time, ensuring every particle of paste gets exactly the heat it needs. The result? A 99.9% lead purity rate and 15% less energy use than gas-heated models. "We were skeptical at first—microwaves for industrial furnaces sounded like science fiction," admits James Chen, technical director at a recycling plant in Taiwan. "But after 6 months, our energy bill was down $10,000 per month, and the lead quality was better than ever." IEE doesn’t just innovate with heating. Their furnace includes a built-in X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer that tests lead purity every 10 minutes, automatically adjusting settings if levels ｄｒｏｐ. This means operators don’t have to wait for lab results to tweak the process—saving hours of downtime. The only catch? Microwave technology isn’t cheap. IEE’s furnaces cost about 20% more upfront than conventional models, but clients say the payback period is typically under 3 years thanks to energy and labor savings. With patents pending on their microwave design and partnerships with research labs to improve efficiency further, IEE is one to watch for forward-thinking recyclers.