Kyungnam University is joining hands with three affiliates of Manho Steel, a leading local specialty steel company, to build an artificial intelligence (AI)-based smart factory. The plan aims to combine the university's research capabilities with the companies' field experience to accelerate the digital transformation of manufacturing in South Gyeongsang Province.
Kyungnam University's Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation signed an industry-academic cooperation agreement with Manho Steel, MH Dynamics, and MH Systems at the central library Wednesday, aimed at supporting AI-based smart factory construction and boosting technology commercialization.
The agreement carries significance in that the university participates as a partner in technology support, talent development, and joint research to spread smart manufacturing innovation together in South Gyeongsang Province, a region with a strong manufacturing base.
Each institution will cooperate on supporting AI-based smart factory construction, technology and management consulting, joint research, and running industry-academic seminars and special lectures. They also plan to broaden the scope of cooperation through expanding the South Gyeongsang Province RISE project, linking field training and employment, and identifying new joint projects. As Kyungnam University supports digital innovation based on its research capabilities in AI, software, and manufacturing innovation, the three Manho Steel affiliates will contribute their field technology and experience to technology commercialization and the advancement of smart manufacturing.
Manho Steel, founded in 1953, is a company specializing in specialty steel wire and wire rope. It has produced products including hard-drawn steel wire, PC strand, and wire rope at its plants in Changwon, Busan, and Yangsan. Recently, it has been expanding into special alloy materials for robots, electrical equipment and control software, precision parts machining, and automation platform technology, pursuing a transition into a robotics solution company.
"This agreement is an important starting point for realizing AI-based smart manufacturing innovation by fusing the university's research capabilities with the companies' industrial field experience," said Han Sang-bo, head of the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation. "We will create a sustainable industry-academic cooperation model that links technology commercialization, talent development, and even the RISE project."
"To lead the AI-based intelligent robot market, building a smart factory is a core task for securing corporate competitiveness," said Ahn Byung-doo, chairman of Manho Steel. "Through cooperation with Kyungnam University, we will accelerate manufacturing innovation and technology commercialization and contribute to the development of the regional industrial ecosystem."
