"The reason 3D printing has stagnated for 40 years is that it was blocked by the enormous wall of materials," said Shim Woon-seop, CEO of Graphy (318060). "Graphy is changing the global medical market landscape with 'living materials' that move and function on their own inside the human body, going beyond simply creating shapes."
In an interview with Seoul Economic Daily at Graphy's headquarters in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul on the 25th, Shim expressed confidence, saying "We have made reality what everyone said was impossible when we started the company." Since first encountering 3D printing technology over 30 years ago, he has devoted himself to creating "final products" that are actually installed in the human body and deliver therapeutic effects, going beyond simple prototype production. The fruit of that dedication is the world's first shape-memory clear aligner, "SMA (Shape Memory Aligner)."
The core competitiveness of Graphy under Shim's leadership lies in "Tera Harz," a proprietary 3D printing resin material. While conventional clear aligner methods passively heat-press uniform plastic sheets, Graphy applied 4D printing technology to make the material itself remember its shape. Shim explained, "Our material has the property of returning to its originally designed shape in response to oral temperature (body heat). This applies continuous, consistent force to teeth, reducing pain and dramatically shortening treatment periods." The material can also be sterilized in hot water yet restores to its original shape at body temperature, allowing hygienic maintenance—another differentiator from existing products.
The basis for this technical confidence is solid academic data. Approximately 200 papers independently published by university researchers worldwide—not by in-house labs—objectively demonstrate Graphy's technology, the company says. Shim emphasized, "We only provided guidelines for these papers; experts from countries around the world actually used our products and academically verified their efficacy. Because we have data recognized by expert communities, our credibility in global markets is unmatched."
Global market response has already been strong. In the United States, the world's largest dental market, Graphy partnered with leading distributor Benco Dental, while expanding its supply chain across Europe through Germany's The Until Group. The Central Lab being established in Florida for made-to-order production serves as a forward base for global expansion. Shim said, "Global leaders have moved beyond the stage of just watching us—they are now quite nervous. The market recognizes that we are presenting an entirely new paradigm, not simply following existing methods."
Shim's vision extends beyond orthodontics to a precision medical materials platform. In recent clinical trials with university research teams, Graphy's material was injected into skull defect sites in rabbits and exposed to specific wavelengths of light. The material expanded precisely to fill the empty space. Shim stated, "Using this technology, we can deliver chemotherapy drugs intensively to affected areas rather than throughout the body, reducing patient suffering. Graphy's materials are presenting new alternatives in areas that cannot even be attempted without biosafety backing."
This year is expected to mark Graphy's "quantum jump" into full profitability. The company has set a revenue target of 40 billion won and plans to significantly increase the export ratio of high-value-added materials to achieve an operating profit turnaround. A blueprint is taking shape to evolve into a "total solution" platform company encompassing 3D printers, software, and post-processing equipment—not merely replacing existing products. As mass supply through local production bases begins in earnest in the second half of this year, financial improvement is expected to become more visible.
Shim concluded by emphasizing the importance of materials technology sovereignty. "Global medical device markets have been led by overseas materials companies, but we are now entering an era where Korea's proprietary technology sets global standards," he said. "Watch as materials innovation born in Korea establishes itself as the new standard in global medical markets."