LG Uplus Targets Digital Transformation for SMEs and Mid-sized Companies with Gentle Energy

(From left) Jin-gu Kim, Co-CEO of Gentle Energy; Charles Ki-seok Song, Co-CEO of Gentle Energy; Jae-yong Seo, Head of Smart Factory Business at LG Uplus, posing for a commemorative photo at the business agreement ceremony. Photo by LG Uplus

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Su-yeon] LG Uplus announced on the 25th that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 'Gentle Energy,' which possesses smart factory solutions optimized for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies. The plan is to precisely target the digital transformation of SMEs and mid-sized companies through synergy by combining LG Uplus's communication infrastructure and corporate network with Gentle Energy's technological capabilities.

The MOU signing ceremony held at Gentle Energy's headquarters in Mapo-gu, Seoul, was attended by key executives from both companies, including Seo Jae-yong, LG Uplus Smart Factory Business Manager (Executive Director), and Gentle Energy co-CEOs Song Charles Gi-seok and Kim Jin-gu.

Gentle Energy, a company specializing in industrial AI solutions, has been rapidly growing since its establishment in 2019, recognized for business achievements and future vision through manufacturing system innovation. Gentle Energy's smart factory solutions enable fundamental improvements in aging manufacturing plants by supporting ▲ productivity monitoring, ▲ real-time maintenance, and ▲ automatic parts management, thereby enhancing manufacturing efficiency for SMEs and mid-sized companies.

Through this MOU, the two companies agreed to collaborate on the establishment of an 'Equipment Productivity Monitoring Solution.' This solution collects equipment data using self-powered sensors that operate without separate power sources by utilizing energies such as magnetic fields, vibrations, heat, and light present in factory sites. Factory managers can establish efficient production plans and monitor productivity improvements based on data analyzed by AI algorithms.

They expect that this solution implementation project will accelerate the smart factory transition of small and medium-sized manufacturing companies. Although SMEs and mid-sized companies require key data such as production volume and equipment operation rates for efficient factory management, they face difficulties in building smart factories due to large initial investment costs. The equipment productivity monitoring solution does not require separate equipment modification or wired network construction and enables simple smart factory establishment even while factory equipment is operating, using 5G/LTE-based self-powered sensors, significantly reducing initial investment costs.

Going forward, the two companies plan to expand their business to various manufacturing SMEs and mid-sized companies, ranging from production and assembly industries such as shipbuilding, aviation, and automotive parts to chemical and steel sectors, and actively pursue the development of new solutions to lead the smart factory market.

Seo Jae-yong, LG Uplus Smart Factory Business Manager (Executive Director), said, "Through the MOU with Gentle Energy, we have secured smart factory solution technology that can provide practical help to SMEs and mid-sized companies," adding, "We will continue to discover ways to reduce companies' investment burdens while increasing productivity."

Song Charles Gi-seok, co-CEO of Gentle Energy, stated, "By combining LG Uplus's communication infrastructure and sales network with Gentle Energy's technological capabilities, we can contribute to the spread of digital transformation among SMEs and mid-sized companies," and added, "We will advance smart factory solutions that also improve energy efficiency to realize a sustainable society."