During a meeting with reporters from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy at the EcoPro Pohang campus on June 11, Song remarked, "The secondary battery industry is not driven by a few geniuses but by many excellent material and process developers working together to find optimal solutions." He noted that China is aggressively deploying a large workforce to produce results in the battery sector.
He added, "I believe 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. This is a process of changing our previously unfavorable environment compared to China. It is crucial for both companies and the government to actively work together to enhance the nation's overall competitiveness in secondary batteries."
The shift in the cathode materials market has prompted this strategy. 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 ternary cathode materials sector dropped from first place in 2023 to sixth place in 2024.
China is leveraging its supply chain from mining to cathode materials, along with cost competitiveness. South Korean companies are currently at a disadvantage in terms of initial investment costs and operational expenses. EcoPro believes that enhancing productivity through AI-based autonomous operations is necessary to address these challenges.
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 office tasks.
To achieve this, EcoPro plans to implement automatic planning, production progress management, anomaly detection, and autonomous actions based on an AI Integrated Control Center (ACC). In terms of quality, the company will create a system where AI autonomously manages raw materials and key recipes. In the equipment sector, it will utilize autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for routine inspections and predictive maintenance of key equipment, while also employing CCTV and sensors to proactively mitigate risks in safety and environmental areas.
Data is crucial to this initiative. 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 ultimate goal is to establish the first dark factory for cathode materials. EcoPro BM aims to create a closed-network AI system that does not rely on external generative AI, integrating ACC, AMR, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and humanoids to automate input and packaging processes and achieve manufacturing automation by 2030.
Song stated, "We plan to increase EcoPro BM's global market share in ternary materials from about 5% to 20%. By optimizing autonomous operations based on AI, we aim to secure over 300% productivity compared to China and capture market share."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.