POSCO Leads “K-Steel” Solutions for AI Infrastructure, Pursues Cooperation With GS on AI Data Center Business
TECHWORLD ·
✦ AI Summary
POSCO signed an MOU with GS Group for strategic cooperation in the AIDC business.
The two companies agreed to strengthen cooperation on AIDC planning, power, design and construction, and liquid cooling, and to discuss specific measures.
POSCO is pursuing expansion of its AIDC business by providing specialized materials and customized solutions from the early design stage.
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POSCO is moving ahead with cooperation with GS Group to enter the AI data center (AIDC) business. POSCO plans to participate from the early stages of AIDC development and will substantially expand its business scope into an "AIDC total solutions company" by providing specialized materials and customized solutions.
This strategy is aimed at capturing future demand in the AX (AI Transformation) market and securing a new growth engine. POSCO is pursuing cooperation with GS Group in line with this direction.
On the 11th, POSCO announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GS Group for strategic cooperation in the AIDC business. The two companies agreed to strengthen cooperation on domestic and overseas AIDC projects and will discuss specific collaboration measures.
GS Group will oversee the full range of AI infrastructure buildout and operations, including business planning, power supply, design and construction by GS E&C, and liquid cooling by GS Caltex. Based on this, the two companies plan to flesh out cooperation on domestic and overseas AIDC projects.
Based on its steel technology and stable material supply capabilities, POSCO plans to maximize project construction stability and profitability. Through this, POSCO will establish a framework in which it provides both materials and solutions in the AIDC business.
POSCO is pursuing the application of an EVI (Early Vendor Involvement) model that differs from the usual steel supply method. Under the standard approach, steel is supplied after design drawings are finalized, but EVI is applied from the project kickoff stage. Through EVI, POSCO will provide customized steel solutions from the early design phase and deliver solutions across the entire steel supply chain.
These solutions include reviewing optimized steel specifications for structures and equipment, reviewing steel processing methods, conducting performance tests, and establishing advance procurement plans linked to the construction schedule. POSCO aims to drive project success with these solutions.
AIDC projects involve building advanced power and cooling facilities, making energy efficiency improvements important. In addition, shortening the construction period is a key factor that determines profitability in AIDC projects. This is because AI infrastructure technology is advancing very rapidly, making it necessary to minimize construction time. Shortening the construction period leads to the timely operation of the latest computing environment and early revenue generation, which in turn maximizes investment efficiency.
To shorten construction time and maximize operating efficiency, POSCO plans to apply specialized materials optimized for AIDC building and facility operation. The materials to be applied are PosMAC, electromagnetic interference shielding materials, and high-efficiency electrical steel.
PosMAC is a highly corrosion-resistant alloy-coated steel sheet used in interior and exterior building materials and cable trays. POSCO plans to use PosMAC to reduce corrosion in cooling facilities and exterior materials, improve building durability, and help cut maintenance costs.
Electromagnetic interference shielding materials are applied to IT equipment and devices. POSCO plans to use these materials to reduce data processing errors caused by electromagnetic interference, improve server stability, and help extend equipment lifespan. High-efficiency electrical steel has the effect of maximizing the efficiency of transformers, generators, and other equipment.
In this way, POSCO has set a goal of leveraging these "AIDC-specialized materials" to enhance building durability, significantly reduce maintenance costs, and substantially shorten construction time.
The two companies are pursuing ways to apply the large-scale power generation and heating and cooling efficiency know-how accumulated in steel mill operations to AIDC operations. One of the aims of the agreement is to secure a successful build and operation reference for major domestic AIDC projects.
Based on the reference they secure, the two companies plan to link POSCO's global steel network with GS Global's overseas network. The target markets for joint expansion are overseas regions such as North America and Asia, where demand for AI infrastructure is surging.
To this end, the two companies plan to immediately form a working group. The working group will be tasked with devising specific action plans to shorten the construction period of AIDC projects and preparing a roadmap for overseas expansion.
POSCO President Lee Hee-keun said AI data centers are a key future market that will drive new global demand for steel and materials. He also stressed that POSCO and GS Group must secure leadership in the global AIDC market by combining GS Group's infrastructure value chain with POSCO's capabilities in next-generation steel solutions.
Source: TECHWORLD · Lee Gwang-jae
Original: https://www.epnc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=409617
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Source: TECHWORLD
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