Gwangyang Steelworks Completes Hot Rolling AI Smart Center... A Big Step Toward a Smart Steel Plant

AI and IoT Utilized for Remote Control of Hot Rolling Mill Equipment at Hot Rolling AI Smart Center
Full Effort to Achieve Intelligent Automation Across Entire Hot Rolling Process, Cold Rolling, and Coating Departments

[Gwangyang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik] POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks (Director Kim Jiyong) has taken a step closer to realizing a smart steelworks by completing the Hot Rolling AI Smart Center.

The Hot Rolling AI Smart Center is a remote control room that can control the hot rolling plant equipment through smart technologies such as artificial intelligence and IoT. It is expected to contribute to innovating work methods by enabling real-time remote operation of equipment without having to be physically present at the site.

The hot rolling division of Gwangyang Steelworks decided to establish the Hot Rolling AI Smart Center within the Automotive Steel Sheet Technology Center to accelerate the digital transformation of steelmaking processes amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution era and the COVID-19 pandemic, and is gradually promoting intelligent automation across all hot rolling processes.

The 3rd hot rolling mill was selected as a smart factory model plant, and currently, alongside the existing rolling operation room within the plant, a twin operation system for the rolling process has been established based on remote control through the Hot Rolling AI Smart Center.

Additionally, SmartWave control technology, which uses real-time video to detect and control the shape of rolled materials in the finishing rolling process, has been applied and is being operated remotely.

The hot rolling division of Gwangyang Steelworks is making every effort to achieve integrated monitoring and remote operation of all hot rolling processes from heating to coiling, starting with the hot rolling process. Furthermore, based on the smartification and operational experience of the 3rd hot rolling mill, they plan to expand automation of operations to all rolling plants including the cold rolling and plating divisions.

Kim Jiyong, Director of Gwangyang Steelworks, who visited the Hot Rolling AI Smart Center, said, “Please continue to develop the digital twin operation system established at the Hot Rolling AI Smart Center so that it can be the starting point for the future of hot rolling operations, and accelerate the realization of a smart steelworks applying advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence.”

Meanwhile, Gwangyang Steelworks plans to continuously grow as a respected 100-year company by actively supporting technology sharing and capacity building among employees, such as holding smart technology competitions to share achievements developed by combining various smart technologies with field know-how, and engineer technology conferences where engineers from various departments solve technical problems and share development know-how, thereby realizing a smart steelworks.

Gwangyang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik hss79@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.