I will explain the process of introducing a Korean company called Good Life, which is being Incubated by the LA Times Asia Journal, to a Japanese company and conducting business.
Good Life is a company that built an electric outlet that does not generate electric fires even if dust accumulates in an electric outlet, is safe because electricity does not flow even if water is poured on it, and electricity does not flow even if a metal rod is plugged into an outlet. Good Life’s product won the gold medal at the Geneva International Invention Exhibition in Switzerland. In a small country with a population of 51.82 million and accounting for about 20.92 million households, there are 45,000 fires that occur in Korea over a year, of which 9,000 or 20% are electric fires. In addition, about 600 electric shock accidents have occurred, and about 540 cases, or 90%, are children’s electric shock accidents. Numerous casualties are repeated every year, and economic losses of more than 100 billion won are incurred every year.
This electric fire and electric shock accident are occurring not only in Korea, but also all over the world. Even though most of them are caused by an electric outlet, the reality is that the only means to prevent an accident are to block the entrance of the electric outlet at most. Plugs and outlets with two metal pins were developed and patented by Harvey Hubbell of the United States in 1904 and have still been used for more than 100 years.
There are four types of accidents caused by electric power outlets currently in use. Short circuit due to contact when inserting and removing plugs, short circuit due to insertion of foreign substances and fire, electric shock and short circuit due to water inflow, and dust fire caused by internal spark
Lee Jong-Ho, CEO of Good Life, developed a new concept of electric outlet with the aim of creating an electric outlet that can fundamentally solve these four types of electric outlet accidents.
The fatal problem with conventional electrical outlets, as CEO Lee says, is that electricity always flows through them even if they are not plugged into them and used. This is what he judged to cause electric shocks, short circuits and fires.
So, CEO Lee created a structure where the two metal pins of the plug are fully inserted into the electrical outlet, and the push button installed in the electrical outlet is pressed between the two metal pins, and the push button is raised and cut off at the moment of completely removing the plug. This prevents sparks from being generated by insertion and separation of the plug. In addition, the reason why electricity does not flow even if a metal rod is plugged into an outlet is that electricity does not flow unless two inserts into which the metal pin is inserted and push buttons are pressed at the same time. In addition, it was structurally designed to prevent dust from entering. And, when the plug was inserted into the electric outlet halfway, electricity was never allowed to flow. This is to prevent electric shock from being exposed to two metal pins of the plug. In addition, even if water is introduced, it is designed to be discharged to the outside through a drain pipe of an electric outlet separated by electrical polarity, hence fundamentally solving the occurrence of electric shock and short circuit caused by water inflow.
The LA Times Asia Journal first introduced this to Elematec, a professional boss under TOYOTA Group.
First, Elematec introduced Good Life’s products for sales activities to a Japanese company called Trusco Nakayama.
A Japanese company called Trusco Nakayama is a company that plans and sells wholesale and PB products for construction-related goods. Founded in 1959, it has recently achieved annual sales of about 243.5 billion yen, with 2,909 employees, 89 Japanese bases, and six overseas bases. It has 2,966 suppliers and 5,527 vendors (mechanical tools, welding materials, electrical materials, construction hardware, piping materials, home centers, and Internet mail order companies). Elematec introduced the electrical outlet to Trusco Nakayama because it seemed to fit into Trusco Nakayama, which is planning a private brand. However, business transactions were possible only when mass-produced. Unfortunately, Good Life has only made Mockup products and is undergoing screening after completing the application for U.S. UL certification. After Good Life’s product is finally UL certified, it has decided to promise business with Trusco Nakayama when mass production becomes possible.
Second, Elematec is in contact with Japanese electric outlet manufacturers in addition to Trusco Nakayama for sales activities. Seikoshoji and Meiko, Japanese electric outlet manufacturers, have expressed interest in the concept of Good Life products and have received relevant data and are currently reviewing them in-house.
Under the brand Star Lite, Seikoshoji is a company that manufactures electrical products such as electrical outlets, power extension cables, and disaster prevention lights (with built-in radio function), such as design development of various electrical components, electronic equipment, and miscellaneous goods. It established its headquarters in Osaka in 2000 and supplies it to an electric rice cooker company called Tiger, or sells building supplies through wholesale companies such as Trusco Nakayama in offline stores. It is also sold at large Internet shopping malls such as Yodobashi.com, Biccamera.com, and Amazon Japan.
Meiko is a company that manufactures outlets, plugs, and other accessories for equipment construction/medical facilities/housing facilities/device. Founded in 1932, it manufactures and sells wiring equipment and distribution boards, and has recently achieved annual sales of about 7.5 billion yen. It has 72 employees and seven Japanese bases.
It is worth looking forward to how Good Life’s electric outlet, developed with a completely new concept from the current electric outlet that has been used for more than 100 years, will bring about changes in our daily lives around us.
Mike Choi
Asia Journal
