SeAH Besteel Introduces Spark Automatic Judgment Monitoring System

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] SeAH Besteel Co., Ltd. announced on the 14th that it has introduced a 'Spark Automatic Judgment Monitoring System' utilizing machine vision technology to the small rolling production line at its Gunsan plant.

The 'Spark Automatic Judgment Monitoring System' introduced by SeAH Besteel is a machine vision solution developed based on the fact that the shape of sparks generated during friction varies according to the unique characteristics of special steel grades. Previously, workers generated sparks on the product and visually checked the shape, relying on subjective judgment to distinguish different steel grades. This system, however, automatically distinguishes different steel grades by analyzing the shape of sparks generated by a robotic arm in real-time through a camera attached to the equipment, improving work convenience and accuracy.

In particular, to enhance the accuracy of steel grade judgment by the 'Spark Automatic Judgment Monitoring System,' SeAH Besteel has been converting sparks generated on the surface of each steel grade product into image data and accumulating about 20,000 related data entries over one and a half years.

In fact, for special steel products, unlike general steel products, it is important to produce and supply products with the specifications of steel grades desired by customers, such as durability and heat resistance. Therefore, if steel grades with different properties are mixed due to product judgment errors, it can cause significant problems. Through the introduction of this spark automatic judgment monitoring system, the company plans to drastically reduce errors that may occur during the inspection process and increase production quality and efficiency.

Since 2018, SeAH Besteel has been collaborating with expert groups in fields such as IoT and big data to build process solutions applying digital technology. The company has formed a dedicated digital innovation organization and has been executing detailed tasks to prepare for company-wide changes and future industries.

Hong Sung-won, head of SeAH Besteel’s Production Planning Office, stated, "The results of the digital innovation project, which SeAH Besteel has been promoting under a nine-year plan since 2018, are now appearing." He added, "Through continuous efforts, we will eliminate risk factors and work inefficiencies to build a smart factory that ensures a safe plant and the highest quality."