
Coway R&D Genius Spotlight #3: Airmega
Meet genius Hyun Jin Hong, Senior Research Engineer on the Coway AirCare Development Team. Together with the rest of his team, Hong leads the development of Airmega products that will ship out to create healthier homes worldwide.
Innovating Air Purification
“We breathe every second for 24 hours every day to live. But the air we breathe has dust, various harmful gasses, VOCs, pollen, pet hair, viruses, and other invisible particles,” says Hong. “The smaller the particle, the more chances of breathing that into our bodies. Air purifiers will help collect those and give us clean air and protect us from harm.”
When asked about the creation of Airmega, Hong said the sources of inspiration were all around. “Even 10 years ago, many air purifiers had different designs with one single suction structure. Over time, it seems everyday tasks and the products would go hand in hand together. For example, wouldn't it be more intuitive to show quality numerically but also in color? Or how about installing it on walls or ceilings in public facilities besides the home? All these ideas helped lead to the creation of the product,” Hong said.
“When developing a product, unexpected issues come and go without warning,” Hong added. “However, despite obstacles and setbacks, we are a company that strives to do our best in a never-ending effort to provide quality products to consumers.”
His partner, Hyun Kuk Choi, added, “The most important feature is to provide clean air in the shortest amount of time. However, it is not only the performance but also the design that is appealing to consumer interest.”
A Network of Capture Technologies
The Coway filter system removes 99.999%1 of particles as small as 0.01 micron. Our Max2 filter has both the Green True HEPA™ filter and an activated carbon deodorization filter. Not only does the Green True HEPA™ filter capture the virus, but also destroys it.
“The Green True HEPA™ filter technology is unique only for Coway by applying a green anti-bacterial surface to stop viruses from going through,” explains Hong. “After some time passes, viruses like the H1N1, influenza, or MERS-CoV are collected in that filter and are inactivated. This was achieved due to the collaboration with leading universities through proven experiments.”
Although in general other HEPA filters alone are expected to trap 99.97%2 of particles 0.3 microns in size, some particles will inevitably get through. Airmega’s Max2 filters include an activated carbon filter that uses small pores to capture the chemicals, odors, and smoke that a standalone HEPA filter might not catch.
Instead of a corner, Hong recommends placing your purifier in the middle of the room to evenly distribute air. “We also recommend regular maintenance on filters to keep them running at top performance. Coway products have features that will let you know if filters need to be changed.”
Watch this video to learn more about how certain Airmegas can capture and remove over 99.98%3 of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Viruses.
To learn more about Airmega and shop for a purifier of your own, visit cowaymega.com/airmega.