In a long-haul visit around the world last week, Plano Mayor John Muns led a delegation to the HQ and R&D center of South Korea’s SK Signet, a global manufacturer of high-power EV charging solutions. A key reason for the trip: In 2023, SK Signet established its production base in Plano, marking a “significant step’ in accelerating its North American market expansion.
The delegation also included Plano City Manager Mark Israelson and other key city officials. During the visit, they observed SK Signet’s R&D capabilities and ultra-fast charging technologies and toured advanced testing facilities, including the design and validation processes for ultra-fast chargers, a large-scale EMC chamber, and vehicle simulators.
Since SK Signet first opened its EV charger facility in Plano, the company has supplied more than 3,000 ultra-fast chargers across the U.S. market, positioning itself as a leading player in the global EV charging infrastructure industry. The Plano facility serves as “a strategic hub,” the company said, enabling rapid response to local demand while ensuring supply chain stability and scalability through localized production.
In 2023, attendees got an up-close look at ultra-fast EV chargers at the grand opening of an SK Signet manufacturing facility in Plano. [Photo: SK Signet]
Future collaboration discussed
Mayor John Muns said it was very meaningful to see SK Signet’s “advanced research facilities and outstanding technological capabilities firsthand.”
“The company’s production base in Plano plays a pivotal role in the local economy and also in advancing EV infrastructure across the United States,” Muns added in a statement. “We’ll continue to actively support the company at the city level and work closely with state and federal governments to ensure its continued growth.”
During the visit, both parties discussed future collaboration, SK Signet said, focusing on expanding EV charging infrastructure across Plano and the broader North American region, as well as strengthening SK Signet’s local manufacturing capabilities.
Discussions also covered potential public-private partnerships and the expansion of EV charging networks in line with U.S. federal and Texas state clean mobility initiatives, the company said.
SK Signet CEO Hyung-Ki Cho said Plano serves as a critical North American hub with “a business-friendly environment, strong talent, and strategic positioning, providing a solid foundation for building a stable supply chain and expanding our business.”
“Through close collaboration with Plano, we will continue to contribute to the expansion of EV charging infrastructure in North America while fostering shared growth with the local community and industry ecosystem,” Cho added.
SK Signet’s new innovations
SK Signet recently introduced a new 400kW all-in-one ultra-fast charger, significantly strengthening its product portfolio, the company said. The charger features a modular architecture that integrates multiple high-density SiC-based power modules, and achieves higher output density that delivers up to 96.5% efficiency, enabling reduced operating costs and stable performance.
Compared with installing two existing V2 200kW all-in-one units, the 400kW all-in-one configuration reduces footprint per output by approximately 54%, allowing efficient deployment in space-constrained environments such as shopping centers, gas stations, and urban parking facilities, the company said.
In addition, the system incorporates liquid-cooled cables and a swing-arm cable management system to enhance durability and user convenience. It supports both the North American Charging Standard (NACS) and CCS1 connectors, ensuring compatibility across a wide range of EV models, SK SIgnet said.
The company said it’s advancing its operational capabilities with a high uptime rate of 99% and enhanced management systems, accelerating its transition from a manufacturer to a “total solution provider.”
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