LG U+ to turn Yeosu Industrial Complex into a smart factory

Industry

Published: 20 Jul. 2021, 17:41

LG U+ to turn Yeosu Industrial Complex into a smart factory

Head of Korea Industrial Complex Corporation's South Jeolla regional headquarters Park Jin-man, left, South Jeolla provincial government's department of smart ICT management official Sohn Jae-hyung, and LG U+ vice president and head of smartinfra business unit Suh Jae-yong pose for a photo after signing a partnership on Tuesday. [LG U+]

LG U+ will use its smart factory technology to upgrade the old Yeosu Industrial Complex, strengthening safety measures to prevent industrial accidents.

The mobile carrier announced Tuesday it signed a partnership with the South Jeolla provincial government and Korea Industrial Complex Corporation’s South Jeolla regional headquarters to revamp the Yeosu Industrial Complex.

Some 30 to 50 years have passed since many local petrochemical factories and industrial complexes were built, and upgrading the facilities is considered necessary. The Yeosu Industrial Complex was built in 1974.

LG U+’s smart factory system, using the mobile carrier’s 5G network service, will be used to monitor the industrial complex's air and water quality, temperature and humidity.

Multi-access edge computing (MEC) technology will also be applied, reducing time spent on data transmissions and analysis by bringing computation and data storage closer to devices being used to reduce latency of 5G networks. The faster 5G network will allow factory officials to swiftly receive and respond to information.

The temperature and humidity of the factories will be monitored around the clock, allowing officials to keep an eye out for electrical fires that easily start in hot and humid environments. A sensor attached to the safety helmets will measure the workers’ body temperature and heart rate, sending a notification to the control center when changes in bio-signals suggest possible hazardous gas intake or other accidents.

“We will improve the working environment of petrochemical factories and help enhance the competitiveness of small- and mid-sized companies by establishing the smart industrial complex,” said Suh Jae-yong, LG U+'s vice president and head of the smartinfra business unit.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]