SK On strengthens its smart factory strategy with Siemens Digital Industries Software

SK On, a leading electric vehicle battery developer has signed an agreement with global tech giant, Siemens Digital Industries Software (DISW) to establish a smart factory system.

As per the memorandum of understanding signed between the partners on Friday (April 12), SK On will cooperate with Siemens DISW to establish a 'digital twin' for battery manufacturing factories. A "digital twin" is a technology that replicates a factory in a virtual environment for simulation before and after its design and operation. Siemens is renowned for its expertise in this field.

"SK On will expand cooperation with leading global partners, including Siemens, to strengthen our manufacturing competitiveness," said Lee Seok-hee, CEO of SK On.

SK On plans to utilize the digital twin software and simulation technology included in Siemens DISW's Xcelerator product line. As part of its efforts to strengthen its smart factory, SK On will establish a digital twin factory in Korea first and then expand this model to other global factories in the United States and Europe.

"Applying digital twin technology to new factories will enable rapid verification of optimized manufacturing lines, thereby shortening the time required to build factories," SK On added.

With the latest partnership, SK On is looking to bring significant reductions in equipment maintenance time through real-time monitoring between the virtual factory and the actual site and cost reduction.