Achieving Zero Worker Deaths... POSCO Pohang Steelworks Deploys Robots for High-Risk Tasks

Collaboration with Robot Development Companies in the Pohang Area

POSCO Pohang Steelworks announced on the 17th that it has prioritized worker safety by introducing industrial robots in high-risk workplaces to establish a safe working environment.

Robot automation line.

The newly introduced industrial robots are primarily installed in high-risk equipment where workers are deployed. They automate dangerous manual tasks performed by workers while also contributing to productivity improvement.

Representative factories where industrial robots have been applied to high-risk tasks include the Cold Rolling Department and the STS Rolling Department at Pohang Steelworks.

In the Cold Rolling Department’s plating plant, a ‘Backing Roll Import Automation Robot’ has been introduced to automatically remove foreign substances on the rolls, enabling workers to perform tasks safely and efficiently without approaching operating equipment.

In the STS Rolling Department’s annealing and pickling plant, a ‘Debanding Robot’ performs automatic cutting of coil bands, ensuring worker safety.

This prevents injuries caused by cutting edges that may occur when workers manually cut coil bands. Notably, these technologies were developed through close collaboration between POSCO and robot development companies in the Pohang region.

Jeon Young-ho, head of the STS Annealing and Pickling Plant, said, “The introduction of industrial robots has greatly improved worker safety, and the cooperation with local robot development companies was successful. We will continue to lead the creation of safer working environments through ongoing technological innovation.”

Pohang Steelworks shares these excellent smart technology cases internally and plans to expand their application to similar processes. POSCO will continue to promote robot automation to create safer working environments in the future.