9 Things You Had No Idea LG Made
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This guest post was contributed by Conference Genie
LG is best known worldwide for its phones and televisions, but this is a small portion of the company’s range of products. LG is a chaebol, a Korean form of conglomerate designed to have as varied interests as possible so los
ses in one sector don’t bring down the entire company. Originally intended for the Korean home market or internal production services, many of these businesses have expanded to sell their products worldwide.
1. Personal care products
(Image Credit: Digiangel)
LG began in 1947 as Lucky-Goldstar. Initially the company made face cream and toothpaste under the "Lucky" brand name. Electronics manufacturing did not start until ten years later when the company produced the first Korean-made radio. As time went on these electronics, marketed under the name "Gold star," became the dominant business while the Lucky division shifted to chemical manufacturing. The company was renamed LG in 1995 and Lucky became LG Chem.
2. Hybrid batteries
(Image Credit: The Energy Blog)
LG have produced lithium ion batteries for its portable devices since 1998, moving on to larger batteries with their Compact Power subsidiary. CPI was hired by GM in 2007 to develop lithium ion batteries to be used in their Voltec platform. The Troy, Michigan-based company will manufacture these batteries for the initial run of Volts although worldwide demand may spread the spread production to other factories. Ford recently announced that they would use CPI’s batteries in the 2011 Focus Hybrid.
3. Air conditioners
(Image Credit: Preact Intellect)
LG are the largest producer of in-room air conditioners in the world. They are also one of a handful of companies that produces a full range of air conditioning systems going up to sizes large enough to be used in commercial
buildings.
4. Wine
(Image Credit: e-newsletter)
LG’s Twin Wine sells wine in Korea under its own brand names and distributes major labels from around the world. LG also owns Geovine, a company which analyzes land for wine production.
6. Surveillance systems
(Image Credit: Eyes Undetected)
While LG doesn’t make stand-alone consumer cameras or camcorders they do make a range of camera devices for use in both business security and traffic management. This includes dome cameras, infra-red cameras, and DVR recording equipment.
7. IT Services
(Image Credit: Business Line)
LG CNS began as internal IT support for the company’s massive operations, eventually becoming its own business in 1987. The company offers network integration as well as technology and business outsourcing.
8. Advertising
(Image Credit: Uber-gizmo)
Like CNS, HS Ad started as an in-house business which eventually accepted outside work. As LG added new advertising divisions the GIIR group was formed with HS Ad serving as the central agency for a range of media from TV to billboards. The current HS Ad division is the second largest ad agency in K
orea with offices worldwide.
9. Flooring
(Image Credit: LG Hausys)
LG Hausys makes a range of laminate flooring for home and industrial use. Started in 1961, the brand reached the U.S. market ten years ago.
