Recently, Hubei Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology announced the list of 2026 Advanced‑Level Smart Factories. The Silicon Steel Intelligent Inspection Plant (Silicon Steel Work Area of Quality Inspection Center) of Wuhan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. was successfully selected.
This honor marks a key practice of China Baowu’s “AI + Steel” strategy and Baosteel Co., Ltd.’s Smart Manufacturing 2.0 initiative. Centered on full‑process unmanned intelligent inspection, the plant integrates machine vision, deep learning, digital twin, 5G and gigabit optical ring network technologies, forming a three‑in‑one development model of “equipment upgrading + technological innovation + management restructuring”.
Built on a four‑layer collaborative technical architecture supported by 5G and gigabit optical ring network, the plant is equipped with more than 20 sets of high‑end facilities including automatic laser cutting and AC magnetic testing devices. Numerical‑control and networking rates of key equipment reach 100%, enabling non‑stop inspection switching for hundreds of silicon steel grades. Several self‑developed devices such as automatic Vickers hardness tester and electrical steel adhesion tester are world‑first, filling gaps in full‑process unmanned inspection and delivering measurement accuracy beyond national standards via machine vision and deep learning algorithms.
Remarkable benefits have been achieved through intelligent transformation. The plant processes over 3,600 silicon steel samples daily with a 38% efficiency improvement. It supports inspection work for 3‑million‑ton silicon steel capacity without additional manpower. Labor intensity for key posts is greatly reduced, equipment failure rate and downtime are substantially cut, and comprehensive equipment availability hits 99.7%. QR‑code‑based full‑process traceability ensures product quality.
This intelligent inspection solution has been replicated to the cold rolling work area. It accumulates practical experience for internal intelligent upgrading of WISCO and provides valuable reference for the transformation of inspection and testing laboratories across China’s steel industry.