KT-Hanwha/Mechanical, Strengthening Collaboration on Smart Factory and Manufacturing DX

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] KT announced on the 27th that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hanwha Corporation/Machinery to launch new smart factory products and promote business cooperation in digital transformation (DX) in the manufacturing sector.

Through this MOU, the two companies will combine KT's communication infrastructure with Hanwha Corporation/Machinery's automation capabilities to ▲ launch new collaborative robot (cobot) products ▲ build automated systems utilizing the new products and jointly discover and commercialize customer projects ▲ identify large-scale projects and promote DX business cooperation in the manufacturing sector. This is expected to contribute to improving production efficiency through the smartization of domestic manufacturing companies.

Accordingly, in the third quarter of this year, KT will launch new products linking its 5G, cloud, and smart factory platform FactoryMakers with three types of collaborative robots (HCR-3/5/12) from Hanwha Corporation/Machinery. This combines existing automated equipment with a cloud-based platform, enabling equipment-centered process management, real-time status monitoring, and production analysis reporting.

Additionally, both companies will share business opportunities and customer bases and jointly carry out sales, consulting proposals, and other tasks. Through this practical business cooperation, they plan to expand their business areas in the smart factory sector, which is a future growth engine for both companies, and accelerate sales growth.

Furthermore, KT’s various ICT solutions and Hanwha’s smart factory equipment and solutions will be combined to actively enter the manufacturing DX business together. They will also actively participate in digital cluster construction projects and smart factory construction projects for large customers, aiming to establish themselves as leading companies in the smart factory sector and focus on acquiring diverse business experiences.

Shin Sujeong, head of KT’s Enterprise Division, stated, “We will build an eco-ecosystem and strengthen cooperation with Hanwha Corporation/Machinery, a leading smart factory company domestically and internationally, and continuously develop services that contribute to improving the productivity of manufacturing companies.” She emphasized, “KT will strive to contribute to the DX of domestic manufacturing, which plays a pivotal role in Korea’s economy, accounting for 30% of GDP and 90% of exports.”