CK Materials Lab

What CK Materials Lab does

CK Materials Lab Co., Ltd. (주식회사 씨케이머티리얼즈랩) is a South Korean specialty materials company founded in Q1 2013 that develops and manufactures components based on magnetorheological (MR) smart materials — substances whose mechanical properties change in response to external magnetic fields. The company operates two product lines: the MRC Series of magneto-rheological fluids (MRF), proprietary formulations of oil, magnetic particles, and functional additives sold to manufacturers of vehicle suspension dampers, train suspension systems, and seismic dampening infrastructure; and the BeatTouch™ line of haptic actuators built on magneto-rheological elastomer (MRE) technology, which delivers tactile feedback beyond simple vibration (rhythmic tapping, rubbing, realistic touch) for consumer electronics, gaming controllers, wearables, VR accessories, jog dials, and automotive center consoles.

The company's underlying technology relies on patented formulations and structural configurations of MR materials, with two granted Korean patents (KR 101554289 B1 for innovative haptic actuators and KR 101676298 B1 for magneto-rheological fluids) and an internationally registered BeatTouch™ trademark. Products are manufactured at the company's Ansan factory in Gyeonggi-do, with additional R&D and operational presence in Seoul (headquarters), Daegu, and Fort Lee, NJ (US subsidiary established in 2021). The technology has been independently validated through IATF16949 automotive quality certification (2020), InnoBiz certification, designation as an Excellent Corporate Research Institute by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (2021), and multiple international invention show awards including a Double Gold at the 2017 British Invention Show.

CK Materials Lab operates a B2B hardware sales model, selling components directly to enterprise OEM manufacturers through field sales relationships. Its customer base spans Korean conglomerates and global manufacturers across automotive (Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai Rotem, and a Tier-1 vehicle OEM referred to as H Corporation), consumer electronics (Samsung Electronics, LG), and digital platforms (NAVER). The company distributes MR fluids globally, with active export channels to China (since 2019), Japan and the EU (since 2020), and MOUs with Chinese and UK partners. Revenue is generated through component sales and custom formulation manufacturing under quote-based pricing for enterprise customers; specific pricing and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

CK Materials Lab

Legal name

CK Materials Lab Co., Ltd.

Website

https://ckmaterialslab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CK Materials Lab is a South Korean B2B specialty materials company that develops and manufactures proprietary magnetorheological fluid (MRC Series) and magneto-rheological elastomer haptic actuators (BeatTouch™) for automotive, rail, construction, and consumer electronics OEMs including Hyundai, Samsung, LG, and NAVER.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Haptic Actuators and Smart Materials

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

DC Motors (Brushed, Brushless DC) (IMAGACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH), Motion Control Controllers & CNC/Robot Drives (Motion Controllers, Multi-axis) (IMAGACAH)

Keywords

• Haptic actuators
• Magneto-rheological fluids
• Smart materials
• Tunable dampers
• Haptic feedback devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Seocho

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. MR Material and Component Sales: Sale of proprietary Magneto-Rheological Fluid (MRC Series) and Magneto-Rheological Elastomer-based haptic actuators (BeatTouch™ Series) to automotive, mobile device, and electronics manufacturers. Components are sold directly to OEM manufacturers for integration into their products.
2. Custom Formulation and Manufacturing: Custom-made MRF and MRE formulations manufactured and supplied to customer specifications, including specialized MRC-CxL Series for linear suspension systems and MRC-CxR Series for rotary torque systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

CK Materials Lab develops and manufactures smart-material components based on Magneto-Rheological (MR) principles. Its product line centers on the BeatTouch™ series of compact haptic actuators for mobile and consumer-electronics OEMs, and the MRC Series of MR fluids for use in linear suspension/damper and rotary torque/clutch systems serving automotive, railway, and infrastructure applications.

Product overview

CK Materials Lab is a smart materials company offering two core product lines: BeatTouch™ haptic solutions based on Magneto-Rheological Elastomer (MRE) and MRC Series Magneto-Rheological Fluid (MRF) solutions. BeatTouch™ products include multiple actuator models (S, J, M, C variants) providing innovative haptic feedback for applications including gaming hardware, smart home devices, automotive center consoles, jog dials, wearables, VR accessories, game controllers, and tablet PCs. The MRC Series includes C1L models optimized for linear suspension systems in vehicles and bridges, and C1R models specialized for rotary torque systems in brakes and robotics joints. Both product lines leverage controllable smart materials that change properties in response to magnetic fields.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BeatTouch™: Innovative haptic solution based on Magneto-Rheological Elastomer (MRE), providing new tactile sensations for gaming hardware, smart home appliances, and automotive center consoles.
• MRC Series

Products and services

• BeatTouch™ S Compact haptic actuator using MR-fluid smart material to produce precise vibration and tactile feedback, designed for thin consumer-electronics form factors.
• BeatTouch™ J (F1085) High-output haptic actuator built on MR-fluid technology, targeted at smartphones and other mobile devices that require strong, broadband tactile feedback.
• BeatTouch™ J (F6020) High-output haptic actuator variant in the BeatTouch™ J family for mobile-device integration.
• BeatTouch™ M Mid-output MR-fluid-based haptic actuator positioned between compact and high-power BeatTouch variants, for use in consumer-electronics and human-machine interface products.
• BeatTouch™ C Cylindrical compact haptic actuator variant of the BeatTouch™ family, suited to constrained mechanical envelopes in mobile and wearable devices.
• MRC-C1L Magneto-Rheological fluid engineered for linear suspension and damper applications, used in automotive, railway, and structural vibration-control systems.
• MRC-C1R Magneto-Rheological fluid formulated for rotary torque transmission, clutch, and brake applications in automotive and industrial machinery.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• H Corporation (Vehicle Sector)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Major automotive corporation investment and business partnership including MOU/NDA, vendor registration, and ongoing supply relationship for MR fluids
• Chinese Companies A Corporation & D CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018MOU partnership with Chinese suspension sector companies for MR technology applications
• UK I CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Business cooperation for MR fluid products with UK-based company
• Hyundai Motor GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for automotive applications of MR technology, including vibration control and haptic solutions for vehicles
• Hyundai RotemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for railway and transportation applications of MR technology
• Samsung ElectronicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for mobile device and consumer electronics applications including haptic feedback technology
• InfineumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in MR fluid additives and formulation technology

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Lofelt: Berlin-based developer of high-fidelity haptic actuators and software for game controllers, mobile devices, and VR peripherals. Direct emerging competitor in the rich-haptic-actuator category that BeatTouch™ targets.
• Redux (now part of Google): UK-based developer of high-definition haptic technology using piezo-based actuators, acquired by Google. Comparable to BeatTouch™ as a specialist haptic technology vendor serving smartphone, automotive, and consumer-electronics customers, with overlapping target applications and similar differentiation strategy.

Direct peers

• Smart Material Corporation: Florida-based developer and manufacturer of MR fluids, MR elastomers, piezoelectric ceramics, and related smart material components for vibration control and sensing. Most directly comparable to CK Materials Lab in MR material formulation and supply, with overlapping automotive, aerospace, and industrial customers.
• Immersion Corporation: A pioneer and licensor of haptic feedback technology with a foundational patent portfolio covering touch feedback used in smartphones, gaming controllers, automotive interfaces, and wearables. Comparable to CK Materials Lab as a haptic technology specialist, though focused on IP licensing and software rather than proprietary actuator hardware.
• Parker LORD (Lord Corporation): Acquired by Parker Hannifin in 2019, Parker LORD is the dominant global supplier of Magneto-Rheological (MR) fluids, MR elastomers, and MR-based damper systems for automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications. It is the most direct competitor to CK Materials Lab's MRC Series fluids, with deep OEM qualifications and decades of formulation experience.

Others

• Infineum: Specialty chemical joint venture (ExxonMobil + Shell) focused on fuel and lubricant additives. Listed as a minor strategic partner of CK Materials Lab in MR fluid additives/formulation technology, indicating an enabling role in the value chain.
• BASF (Functional Materials / MR fluid additives): Global chemical major that supplies additives and base materials into MR fluid formulations (and is partnered with CK Materials Lab through Infineum-adjacent relationships). Comparable as an adjacent material/chemistry supplier in the smart-materials value chain rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• AAC Technologies: Hong Kong-listed leader in micro-acoustic, haptic, optics, and precision components supplying global smartphone OEMs including Samsung, Apple, and Chinese handset makers. Directly comparable to BeatTouch™ in the haptic actuator market, but at vastly greater scale and with broader product portfolio.
• TDK (including EPCOS and InvenSense haptics portfolio): TDK offers piezoelectric and linear resonant actuators for haptic feedback in smartphones, wearables, gaming, and automotive HMIs. It is a broad incumbent that competes with BeatTouch™ in consumer electronics haptics and overlaps with industrial motion control electronics for automotive applications.

Regional players

• Hyundai Mobis: Major Korean automotive parts supplier to Hyundai Motor Group covering chassis, suspension, electronics, and ADAS. Comparable to CK Materials Lab as a tier-1 Korean automotive supplier; potentially a customer/competitor for MR damper modules in Hyundai platforms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CkMaterials
• Facebookfacebook.com/ckmaterialslab

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CK Materials Lab