- Implement robots into the casting process in cooperation with Chosun Refractories, a refractory specialist company

- Pursuing productivity and safety in tandem by equipping the semi-finished slab manufacturing process with robots
 

POSCO DX (CEO Jung Duk-kyoon) is kickstarting cooperation with specialized companies in each field to expand the implementation of robots at high-risk, high-intensity industrial sites.   

As part of its initiative of rolling out robots for the POSCO Group, POSCO DX has signed a cooperation agreement with Chosun Refractories (CEO Lee Sang-ahm), a refractory specialist company, taking steps to actively cooperate to integrate robots into the ironmaking-steelmaking- continuous  casting processes at the steel mill.     

These processes involve hazardous tasks of handling high-temperature molten metals/iron produced through a blast furnace, but onsite conditions and environments are different and difficult, presenting a challenge to automate them using robots.

According to this agreement, both companies plan to prioritize the implementation of robots to the continuous casting process of producing semi-finished slabs. To make a slab, a process is required to pour a certain amount of molten iron into a casting mold through a nozzle. At this stage, it is planned to jointly develop an automated system that replaces the nozzle using a robot to deal with nozzle clogging, applying it to similar processes.  

To this end, POSCO DX will be in charge of overall robot design, simulation, and automation system development, and Chosun Refractories will be tasked with developing refractories and automation-related auxiliary devices required for the casting process. Both companies expect to secure and stabilize productivity and safety through automation by avoiding process interruptions from using standard manual methods of nozzle replacement that block the flow of molten iron.

POSCO Group is actively pursuing the implementation of robots for steel mills, secondary battery materials, and construction sites this year, while POSCO DX, which is leading the spread of robots, is developing robot technology and solutions and is tasked with overall robot automation, including design, construction, and operation for field application.       

Managing Director Suk-june Yoon of POSCO DX’s Robot Business Implementation Team said “POSCO DX aims to lead the spread of robots across industries through lasting cooperation among POSCO Group affiliates and research institutes, while fostering this field as a new growth engine at the company level.”