[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Samsung Engineering has succeeded in the first piping production through smart robot automation. This production is the world's first case of automating the core process of piping spool welding.
Samsung Engineering announced on the 23rd that it held a prototype shipment ceremony for the 'Smart Piping Shop.' The ceremony, held on the 22nd at the manufacturing plant located in Goseong-gun, Gyeongnam, was attended by Samsung Engineering President Choi Sung-an, Hyundai Robotics CEO Kang Cheol-ho, Taechang EN CEO Kwak Tae-young, Goseong County Governor Baek Doo-hyun, and other related personnel.
In December of last year, Samsung Engineering and Hyundai Robotics signed a business agreement to automate piping and steel frame manufacturing and have been dedicated to development. In May, they completed the development of automated piping manufacturing equipment and, after a commissioning period including performance tests, shipped the first product this time.
Samsung Engineering has succeeded in the first production of piping using smart robots through collaboration with Hyundai Robotics. This production is the world's first case of automating the core welding process of piping spools. A smart robot is manufacturing a piping spool. Photo by Samsung Engineering
The area successfully automated this time is the 'cutting-improving-welding' process of piping spools (connected pieces of piping) made of carbon steel with diameters ranging from 4 to 12 inches, which are frequently used. On this day, the two companies also signed an agreement on the types of piping automation and process expansion and plan to continuously expand their collaboration. Additionally, the automation of steel frame manufacturing has completed equipment development and is in the commissioning stage, with prototype shipment expected in the second half of the year.
Samsung Engineering expects improvements in quality, reduction in construction period, and cost savings through this automation of piping and steel frames. Since piping and steel frames play important roles as the blood vessels and skeleton of a plant respectively, they have a significant impact on the overall project schedule and cost. Samsung Engineering anticipates that this automation will greatly enhance EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) competitiveness by enabling uniform quality control and stable production of piping and steel frames, solving the shortage of skilled local workers overseas, and preventing safety accidents.
Samsung Engineering also plans to secure stable profits through the commercialization of robot automation technology. While continuously striving to secure future growth engines such as innovative solution commercialization, the company will actively pursue discovering customer-tailored business models through research and development of this robot automation technology.
A Samsung Engineering official said, "The innovation in business execution using digital technology and robots is showing visible results," and added, "We will leap forward as a technology solution company through continuous innovation and investment."
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