POSCO to Build State-of-the-Art Coating Steel Plant for Automotive Use, Tapping into the Future of Auto Steel Technology
TECHWORLD ·
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POSCO announced the start of construction on 8CGL, a 450,000-ton-per-year plant, at its Gwangyang Steelworks.
8CGL is a plant specialized in producing hot-dip galvanized steel sheets for automotive outer panels and is scheduled for completion in 2028.
With this investment, production capacity for hot-dip galvanized steel sheets will expand to 4.95 million tons.
POSCO has moved to expand its production capacity for high-end automotive steel in a bid to secure an early lead in the future auto market. On the 8th, the company announced the start of construction on 8CGL, a 450,000-ton-per-year Continuous Galvanizing Line, at its Gwangyang Steelworks.
8CGL is a plant specialized in producing hot-dip galvanized steel sheets for automotive outer panels and is scheduled for completion in 2028. Hot-dip galvanized steel sheet is steel plated with zinc on the surface and is used as material for automotive outer panels and home appliances because of its excellent corrosion resistance and attractive finish.
POSCO President Lee Hee-keun said the investment is a strategic move to strengthen future competitiveness amid a rapidly changing global steel ecosystem. He added that the company plans to build facilities capable of producing next-generation, high-quality automotive steel and to establish POSCO-style dedicated automotive steel equipment with improved cost competitiveness and technological competitiveness.
Lee said the goal is to solidify POSCO's technological leadership amid global competition. Through the construction of 8CGL, POSCO aims to raise production quality and improve cost and technological competitiveness, thereby strengthening its technological edge in global competition.
As the background for the investment, the company cited the fact that demand for hot-dip galvanized steel sheets in the automotive outer panel segment has continued to rise as vehicles become more premium. That demand increase is understood to be driven by the material's excellent paintability, corrosion resistance, and workability.
POSCO decided to build 8CGL to expand production of next-generation automotive steel in line with the premiumization and larger size of the automotive industry. The investment is about KRW 480 billion. With this investment, production capacity for hot-dip galvanized steel sheets will rise to 4.95 million tons.
8CGL will be linked with a new electric arc furnace and serve as a key base for producing carbon-reduced automotive steel. POSCO plans to introduce ultra-high-temperature heat-treatment equipment specialized for electric-furnace steel sheets to meet global automakers' demand for low-carbon steel. It also plans to strengthen its wide-width automotive steel production system, expand the range of applications to vehicle outer panels for mid- to large-size SUV and RV models, and push ahead with higher productivity and stronger quality competitiveness.
POSCO also plans to apply AI technology that reflects its operating know-how. AI will be used to analyze material, process, and quality data in real time and to control equipment. Through this, the company aims to reduce quality variation and defects while improving production efficiency.
POSCO also said it will use AI and robots for high-risk tasks such as removing impurities from molten zinc and collecting samples. Through this, it said it will also pursue manufacturing AX.
POSCO plans to improve quality and service levels based on 8CGL and use that foundation to secure differentiated product competitiveness.
Source: TECHWORLD · Lee Gwang-jae
Original: https://www.epnc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=406680
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Source: TECHWORLD
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