Outokumpu Deploys Robots for Safety Management in Steel Industry
Steel company Outokumpu has become the first in its industry to implement robotics and AI for safety monitoring, aiming to reduce worker exposure to hazardous environments and substances.
Outokumpu Oyj, a global leader in stainless steel, has begun utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and robots for health and safety monitoring across its facilities. The company signed an agreement with Swiss robotics firm ANYbotics for autonomous robotics solutions. In June 2023, the first ANYmal robot was deployed at Outokumpu's Krefeld site in Germany.
The introduction of robotics is part of Outokumpu's safety strategy to create the industry's safest working environment, targeting the lowest accident frequency rate by 2025. The company estimates that transferring inspection tasks to robots could reduce employee exposure to hazardous substances by over 80% and potentially decrease hazardous maintenance repairs by 20%.
"Use of AI and robotics for safety management is one of the cornerstones of our safety strategy," said Thorsten Piniek, Vice President of Health & Safety at Outokumpu. "ANYbotics’ robotics technology will help us to increase safety by reducing employee exposure to hazardous substances and environments, optimize production through preventive maintenance, and decrease environmental impacts."
The Krefeld pilot program is set to expand to Outokumpu's sites in Finland and Sweden during the second half of 2023, with a total of three ANYmal robots to be deployed. The robots will perform tasks such as inspecting acid areas and monitoring bearings and motors for overheating to minimize fire risks. They can also detect defects early through temperature and sound profile measurements, potentially shortening downtime.