Jun 15, 2023

POSCO targets robotic automation solutions for new growth POSCO DX aims to foster the robot business as a new growth engine, leading the industry expansion in cooperation with group firms By (CourtesyгҖҖofгҖҖPOSCOгҖҖDX) SEONGNAM, Gyeonggi Province -- POSCO DX Co., the IT services subsidiary of South KoreaвҖҷs largest steelmaker POSCO Group, aims to begin the robotic automation solution business in 2025 as the conglomerate actively utilizes robots in production to increase safety at workplaces and productivity. POSCO DX, formerly POSCO ICT Co. , is improving its robot capabilities in the groupвҖҷs core businesses such as steel and electric vehicle battery materials to accomplish the goal. вҖңCompanies are accelerating the introduction of robots to ensure the safety of workplaces and cope with the falling working population,вҖқ said POSCO DX CEO Jung Dukkyoon during a conference at its office in Pangyo, Seongnam, so-called South KoreaвҖҷs Silicon Valley. вҖңPOSCO DX aims to foster the robot business as a new growth engine while leading the expansion of robots across industries through cooperation with the group companies.вҖқ The group has already been paid off as more than 100 plants of affiliates including POSCOвҖҷs steel mills and POSCO Future M Co.'s cathode factories used robots, Jung said. ROBOTS HANDLE DANGEROUS JOBS POSCOвҖҷs steel mill in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, introduced robots, which remove dross from the zinc plating process by recognizing the rubbish through artificial intelligence, last month. The machines are handling dangerous work done by employees in the past, who had to regularly stirred the liquid zinc boiling at 419 degree Celsius or higher. Its Pohang Steel Works has been using robots that cut cold-rolled steel plates to prevent accidents caused by bounces of steel plates in the process of cutting and binding. The robots are capable of cutting 400 coils per hour. The steelmaker is also actively utilizing robots for its logistics sector. The two steel mills are operating more than 20 units of an automated guided vehicle (AGV), which can move two cold-rolled coils with a weight of 25 tons each and a pallet with a weight of 10 tons at once. POSCO E&C, the groupвҖҷs construction unit, is using robots for safety checks, welding and construction automation in a rare move in the local industry. Write to Jin-Won Kim at jin1@hankyung.com В 1 Min read