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Layering hundreds of metal sheets with precision... Making the 'heart' of eco-friendly cars beat

From Hankyoreh · (5m ago) Korean Positive tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Posco Mobility Solutions' Cheonan plant produces crucial drive motor cores for eco-friendly vehicles using precisely layered electrical steel sheets.
  • The company is investing in an R&D center and AI-driven automation to enhance production efficiency and technological advancement amid a global slowdown in EV market growth.
  • Posco Mobility Solutions plans to significantly expand its production capacity by 2030 to meet anticipated demand recovery.

At the Posco Mobility Solutions plant in Cheonan, the heart of eco-friendly vehicles is being forged. The rhythmic pounding of presses cutting ultra-thin electrical steel sheets, 150 to 290 layers thick, creates the drive motor cores essential for electric, hybrid, and hydrogen cars. This facility represents a critical node in South Korea's burgeoning green automotive sector.

Usually 120 times per minute, and for small parts, up to 300 times.

— Posco Mobility Solutions Plant OfficialDescribing the high-speed production process of the drive motor cores.

While the global electric vehicle market experiences a temporary slowdown, the industry consensus remains firm: the transition to eco-friendly transportation is an irreversible trend. Posco Mobility Solutions, holding over 70% of the domestic drive motor core market, is proactively responding to this by bolstering its research and development and embracing intelligent automation. The upcoming R&D center, set to break ground soon, will be instrumental in advancing core technologies and supporting overseas operations in Mexico, Poland, and India.

The 'eco-friendly car transition' is a major trend, even if the global EV market is experiencing a temporary demand slowdown.

— Industry OutlookReflecting the industry's view on the long-term prospects of eco-friendly vehicles.

The factory floor itself is a testament to this forward-thinking approach. Robots, like those from Yaskawa Electric, perform intricate assembly tasks with remarkable speed and precision, while human workers focus on final quality checks. The company's commitment to automation, initiated in 2010 and intensified in recent years, is now integrating artificial intelligence. This AI initiative aims to precisely control the stacking height of motor cores, reducing safety risks associated with manual adjustments and boosting efficiency.

We are currently conducting internal simulations to measure productivity and other factors.

— Choi Ki-oh, Head of Core Business Support GroupDetailing the ongoing efforts to optimize production processes.

Looking ahead, Posco Mobility Solutions is preparing for the post-chasm demand recovery. The company plans to more than triple its production capacity by 2030, expanding from its current 2.5 million units annually to over 7.5 million units, including overseas facilities. This strategic expansion underscores South Korea's ambition to remain a global leader in electric vehicle component manufacturing, ensuring a stable growth foundation by balancing supply with evolving market demands across hybrid, electric, and hydrogen vehicle segments.

If intelligence is applied, it will reduce safety risks such as hand cuts and the burden of manual labor.

— Choi Ki-oh, Head of Core Business Support GroupExplaining the benefits of AI integration in the production line.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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