Digital twin center for steel outfitting manufacturing opens Wednesday

Full-cycle automation from drafting to production

A conceptual diagram of the intelligent flexible process automation system at the Steel Outfitting Manufacturing Process Digital Twin Center in Ulsan. [Ulsan city government]
A conceptual diagram of the intelligent flexible process automation system at the Steel Outfitting Manufacturing Process Digital Twin Center in Ulsan. [Ulsan city government]

A new facility designed to help steel outfitting manufacturers automate their production processes and undergo digital transformation opened Wednesday in the Techno General Industrial Complex in Duwang-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan. The Steel Outfitting Manufacturing Process Digital Twin Center is expected to significantly boost productivity for more than 300 related companies across Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province.

"Steel outfitting" refers to iron and steel products used in ships and offshore facilities, including pipes, ladders and handrails. The center's opening is expected to accelerate the digitalization of the steel outfitting manufacturing industry and drive the shift away from its labor-intensive production structure toward automation.

About 150 people attended the opening ceremony, including Ulsan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Shin Min-sik, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Industrial Policy Director Park Dong-il, officials from related agencies and company representatives. The center serves as the core demonstration facility for the Digital Transformation Support Project for the Shipbuilding and Marine Steel Outfitting Manufacturing Industry, a joint initiative by Ulsan city and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. It was built at a cost of 5.5 billion won ($4.05 million), with a single above-ground floor covering a total floor area of 1,450 square meters.

The digital transformation support project, led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, has a total budget of 18.7 billion won — comprising 9.2 billion won in national funds and 9.5 billion won in city funds — and aims to support full-cycle process automation and digital transformation spanning everything from drafting to finished product manufacturing.

Most steel outfitting manufacturers are small-scale operations that still rely on paper drawings and aging equipment, leaving them heavily dependent on skilled workers and burdened with poor working conditions. The center will test and support technologies applicable to the manufacturing floors of more than 300 steel outfitting and shipbuilding equipment companies across the Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province region.

Through the project, Ulsan city plans to support process automation — including welding and cutting — for marine equipment manufacturers and lead the transition of the shipbuilding equipment manufacturing industry toward physical AI.

"The shipbuilding industry has long struggled with labor shortages and productivity challenges due to its heavy reliance on skilled workers," Deputy Mayor Shin said. "The center will apply digital technology directly to the production floors of these companies and bring about significant improvements in their processes."


cityblue@heraldcorp.com