During a meeting with reporters from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on June 11 at the EcoPro Pohang campus, Song emphasized that the secondary battery industry is not driven by a few geniuses but rather by many talented developers of materials and processes working together. He noted that China is rapidly producing results by heavily investing in battery-related personnel.
"I believe that AI is the best solution to respond to this challenge, as it can replace the work of dozens of people and minimize trial and error," Song said. He added that it is crucial for both companies and the government to actively work together to enhance the national competitiveness of South Korea's secondary battery sector.
The shift in the cathode materials market has prompted this focus. Cathode materials are essential components that determine the capacity and voltage of batteries by releasing or absorbing lithium ions during charging and discharging. EcoPro's market share in the nickel-cobalt-manganese cathode materials sector dropped from first place in 2023 to sixth in 2024.
China is leveraging its supply chain from mining to cathode materials, along with cost competitiveness. EcoPro finds itself at a disadvantage in terms of initial investment and operational costs compared to China. Therefore, the company believes that enhancing productivity through AI-based autonomous operations is essential.
EcoPro's subsidiary, EcoPro BM, is developing an AI autonomous manufacturing system aimed at improving the quality prediction and productivity of battery electrode materials. The goal is to establish an innovative autonomous manufacturing line that reduces manufacturing processing costs by 30% and achieves 50% automation in administrative tasks.
To achieve this, the company plans to implement automated planning, production progress management, anomaly detection, and autonomous actions based on an AI integrated control center (ACC) in the production area. In the quality sector, AI will autonomously manage raw materials and key recipes. In the equipment area, the use of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) will automate routine inspections and predictive maintenance of key equipment, while safety and environmental measures will include using CCTV and sensors to preemptively address risks.
The key to this initiative is data. Manufacturing cathode materials involves high-temperature kilns and dust environments, making real-time quality management challenging. EcoPro BM has begun building a data platform to consolidate previously scattered manufacturing data.
The goal is to establish the first dark factory for cathode materials. EcoPro BM plans to create a closed network AI system that does not rely on external generative AI, linking the ACC with AMR, automated guided vehicles (AGV), and humanoids to automate input and packaging processes and achieve manufacturing automation by 2030.
Song emphasized, "We aim to increase EcoPro BM's global market share in the nickel-cobalt-manganese sector from about 5% to 20%. Through AI-based autonomous operations optimization, we will secure over 300% productivity compared to China and capture market share."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.