Posco Holdings, LG Electronics to develop technologies for 'smart factories'

Kim Byoung-hoon, executive vice president at LG Electronics, poses with Kim Ji-yong, chief technology officer at Posco, after signing an agreement Tuesday in southern Seoul. [POSCO HOLDINGS]

Posco Holdings and LG Electronics will work together to develop technologies to advance a "smart factory," where autonomous robots do human work and workers communicate wirelessly.

The two companies signed an agreement Tuesday to co-develop technologies related to robots, artificial intelligence (AI) and wireless communications that can be applied to their manufacturing facilities.

They hope to make autonomous robots that can conduct safety inspections of the plants, especially areas that humans cannot access easily, and assist workers in better managing the conditions through wireless communication systems.

Posco's Pohang plant has been recognized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a so-called Lighthouse Factory, the first for any Korean company. Companies that pioneer developments in core technologies of the fourth industrial revolution — internet of things, artificial intelligence and big data — are recognized as Lighthouse Factories by the WEF.

LG Electronics' Tennessee plant was also recognized as a Lighthouse Factory earlier in the year, the first for a Korean factory overseas.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]