The development of a growth engine for advanced shipbuilding and shipping in Southeast Korea, connecting Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, is officially underway in the shipbuilding equipment sector. A demonstration center aimed at transitioning the manufacturing process of steel structures to an artificial intelligence (AI) basis has been established in Ulsan, while a facility for testing hybrid propulsion systems for eco-friendly ships has opened in Yangsan, Gyeongnam.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on September 30 that it held an opening ceremony for the 'Digital Twin Center for Steel Structure Manufacturing Process' in the Techno Industrial Complex in Nam-gu, Ulsan.
Steel structures refer to metal components such as piping, railings, and cable trays used in ships. Due to the characteristics of small-batch, diverse production, small and medium-sized enterprises make up a significant portion of the industry, which has faced challenges related to labor shortages and low levels of automation.
The center will convert design blueprints into three-dimensional digital twins and link them with automated welding and cutting equipment. The entire manufacturing process, from blueprints to actual product production, will apply manufacturing AI transformation (M.AX) and support automation demonstrations, prototype production, and workforce training.
The project will run from 2023 to 2027, with a total investment of 19 billion won, including 9.5 billion won from the national government and 9.5 billion won from local governments.
On the same day, the 'Land-Based Demonstration Center for Hybrid Propulsion of Eco-Friendly Ships' also opened in Yangsan, Gyeongnam. This facility will allow for testing the performance of key hybrid propulsion equipment, including synchronous generator motors (SGM), power conversion devices, reducers, and control systems, under conditions similar to actual operation. The project budget totals 23.18 billion won from 2022 to 2026.
Earlier in June, the government launched a mini alliance for shipbuilding M.AX connecting the Daebul, Myeongji Noksan, and Gunsan industrial complexes, promoting the AI transformation of the regional shipbuilding supply chain and interconnections between industrial complexes. In particular, the government selected advanced shipbuilding and shipping as the representative growth engine for the Southeast region in its growth engine development plan announced in August.
Park Dong-il, head of the Industrial Policy Office at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated, "The structures integrate the hull, machinery, and electrical equipment, connecting them to make the ship come alive. We will support the spread of manufacturing AI and eco-friendly ship technology on-site to establish advanced shipbuilding and shipping as the representative growth engine of the Southeast region."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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