Smart Factory Expo surpassed Japan, which is a powerful nation in manufacturing industry, has become Asia’s second biggest Smart Factory exhibition.
It is hosted by Korea Smart Manufacturing Industry Association (KOSMIA) and KOEX and it is sponsored by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS). It is going to be held at KOEX for four days starting from the 27th.
Size of the exhibition for 2019 increased by 25% compared to that in 2018 and it has become Asia’s second biggest exhibition followed by SIAF (SPS Industrial Automation Fair). It is estimated that there will be about 35,000 spectators, which is 16.8% increase from last year (29,954).
Level of interests in innovative manufacturing industry has increased as South Korean Government has been active on supporting Smart Factories and as major corporations have introduced their own Smart Factory platforms.
“We are finished with presenting an agenda and it is time for us to actually carry out the agenda.” said Chairman Kim Tae-hwan of KOSMIA during his opening speech. “We need to promote outstanding companies and create cooperative models by major corporations and small and medium businesses just like Germany where private businesses led innovative manufacturing industry while German Government played a role of priming water.”
It is expected that ‘South Korean Smart Factory roadmap’ will be established much faster as South Korean Government promised to supply 30,000 Smart Factories by 2022. Various plans such as promotion of Smart Factory platforms for various industries, establishment of Smart Industrial Complex, and development of professional personnel were mentioned.
“Our government is preparing measures to rapidly spread expand Smart manufacturing industry.” said Vice-Minister Jung Seung-il of MOTIE. “We need to put in efforts to decrease technical gap we have with advanced countries.”
“We hope that there will be good-quality jobs that young men and women prefer for manufacturing innovation of small and medium businesses.” said Vice-Minister Kim Hak-do of MSS. “When we supplied 7,900 Smart Factories in 2018, productivity and percent defective improved by 30% and 43% respectively while hiring rate also increased by an average of 2.2 people.”
Major corporations such as Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Robotics, and POSCO ICT set up large booths at Smart Factory Expo and introduced their technologies. South Korean industries are expecting major roles from these businesses in Smart Factory solution field that has been led by foreign major corporations such as Siemens, Rockwell, and Mitsubishi
This is the first time for Hyundai Heavy Industries to participate in Smart Factory Expo and it introduced its Smart Factory platform called ‘H!-FACTORY’ that is specialized for shipbuilding and heavy industry. It carried out development while thinking about business models (BM) as it has changed into a supplying business from a manufacturing business to digitalize its business. It also introduced its plan to develop a solution that is based on advanced shipbuilding technology and supply it to its subsidiaries, partners, and ‘Smart Ship’ that manufactures ships.
“Although our country is a latecomer in Smart Factory industry, we have found a turning point through 5G network.” said CDO (Chief Digital Officer) of Hyundai Heavy Industries. “We hope that Smart Factory Expo will create opportunities for development of Smart Factory platforms that are specialized in fields where our manufacturing industry excels in.”
Staff Reporter Kim, Myunghee | noprint@etnews.com