CEO Kwon explores CES 2018

As such, CEO Kwon made his first official visit to the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas earlier this month to stay on top of the latest trends in connectivity and smart solutions that can be applied to the manufacturing process in smart factories.

SEE ALSO: POSCO CEO Ohjoon Kwon Visits CES 2018

Ultimately, a smart factory for POSCO would entail using smart sensors to pick up data, smart analysis through AI and automated production processes. Moreover, the smart factory would store and analyze its big data and apply it to make future improvements and prevent malfunctions. Aligned with many of POSCO’s business growth engines, major topics and themes at CES 2018 included smart homes, smart cities, autonomous cars and AI, and more than 3,900 companies put forth their best innovations.

Smart Connectivity

As more and more cities undergo smart transformations, the next big trend will be data collection and analysis through 5G connectivity. It was no surprise to see numerous innovations in smart transportation, smart grid, public safety, healthcare, data analytics and more at CES 2018. Moreover, city officials from early-adapting cities such as Kansas City, Miami and Las Vegas took to the stage to discuss their cities’ smartization plans. Some of the topics discussed included using GIS mapping software, smart construction, inclusive technology and autonomous transportation to enhance citizens’ productivity, efficiency, safety and well-being.

CES 2018 was a platform for smart city discussion. (Source: Bosch)

CEO Kwon visited related booths to learn about new technologies POSCO could apply to its businesses. Currently, POSCO’s smart factories are run by POSCO ICT’s smart platform called PosFrame, which allows the factory to apply a digital genome map to operations via data collection, instantly convert smart factory initiatives in domains, act as a common platform for new technologies and apply the same, standardize smart factory model to other facilities through reusable software.

Also at this year’s CES, POSCO ICT signed an MOU with DPR Construction, a leading smart construction company to apply PosFrame to construction sites for more efficient, cost-effective and smarter construction processes.

Smart Transportation

Another major theme at this year’s CES was mobility. Namely, autonomous and electric mobility. Companies from all across the board from traditional car manufacturers and software companies to gaming companies lined up to showcase their new innovations.

Even as the market for sustainable EVs and autonomous EVs look to expand in 2018 and beyond, EVs only make up about 1 percent of the global fleet of cars and there’s still a ways to go before EVs become the norm. Drivers need to feel safe in their EVs or autonomous EVs, want greater range on a single charge and need to see more charging infrastructure in their communities before making the switch.

SEE ALSO: Ask an Expert: Electric Vehicles and the Future of the Automotive Market

What’s more is that just because a vehicle runs on electric batteries, it doesn’t automatically mean the vehicle is eco-friendly or transmits less harmful emissions. Manufacturers and consumers alike have to take a lifecycle approach to assess the car’s impact on the environment from production to end of life recycling.

POSCO works with numerous partners to develop leading solutions for electric vehicles.

That’s why POSCO is working with automakers to come up with vital solutions in the auto industry for a greener future. It supplies partners with an advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) called POSCO GIGA STEEL that is both lightweight and super strong, allowing cars to travel with less energy without compromising passenger safety.

POSCO is also a lithium provider and has developed an innovative technology to speed up the extraction process, saving time, costs and damage to the environment. It also works with car makers to apply premium electric steel to partners’ electric motors to increase efficiency and cut costs.

With so many exciting new innovations and technologies surrounding EVs, POSCO will undoubtedly play a significant role in ensuring automakers have the tools they need to realize a green future.  POSCO will work to stay ahead of newly emerging technologies to enhance the efficiency, sustainability and performance of all of its solutions.

It’s a common theme, and the images that pop into mind may be of early humans during the Iron Age.

But according to Professor Seohyung Kim of Inha University, the history of iron precedes the history of life, and so historians need to look back to the beginning of the universe to fully understand the way iron has shaped humankind and its environment. She gave a special lecture called “History of Iron: Universe, Life and Human,” as part of the exhibition on October 13. Professor Kim studies history from a Big History perspective, or a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of the past that combines science, geology, human history and more to get a better, bigger picture of the past, present and future.

So here’s a look back, way back, into history to see what iron has to do with the history of man.

Stars Exploded and then Iron Existed

Where did iron come from? The stars. To be exact, large, dying stars. In the beginning of the universe, there were only 2 elements in existence- helium and hydrogen. New elements are only created when protons and neutrons fuse together and this requires a lot of heat.

The temperature of a star rises when it uses up all of its hydrogen atoms, and when it uses up all of its helium atoms, it collapses, emitting even more heat. This cycle repeats itself, creating new elements in the process until finally, iron in created. Elements with greater mass than iron are created in a supernova, or the death of a really, really big star.

A piece of meteoric iron formed by the heating and collapsing of a star sits on display at the National Museum of Korea.

So, why is this important?

The variety of elements created by exploding stars are what planets are made of, including earth, and iron makes up 35 percent of the earth’s entire mass.

Humans and their Complex Brains

After the formation of the earth, simple life forms appeared, and then eventually primates and homo sapiens. Humans are the most powerful species on earth, largely due to their complex brains that allowed for the development of language and through it, collective learning.

Iron-rich red meat was an important factor in human-brain development. (Source: Omicrono)

What’s interesting is that around 2.5 million years ago, humans started eating meat rich in iron and calories. Before this change in diet, early humans spent most of their scarce energy on chewing and digesting large amounts of vegetation. With the introduction of meat, their brains got larger as it is a muscle that requires 20 times more energy than muscles in other parts of the body. When humans started cooking meat with fire around 500,000 years ago, they consumed even greater amounts of meat, meaning humans could meet their dietary iron needs, and put their larger brains to use for things like agriculture.

Agriculture and Civilization

Collective learning led to some of the most critical developments is history, including agriculture, which developed after the end of the last ice age about 11,700 years ago, as human populations increased due to the fact that they were able to cook and consume meat. Further advancements in farming tools during the Iron Age led to an abundance of food and massive civilizations.

Some iron tools that made farming easier are on display at the National Museum of Korea.

Weapons Made Stronger with Iron

However, farming tools were not the only places where iron was applied. As communities developed around abundant agricultural centers, people decided they wanted more land, labor and power. So, cities waged war on one another with iron tools and armor that were fatally strong.

The Iron Age brought forth improvements in soldiers’ armor, and can be seen at the National Museum of Korea.

One vital invention in the evolution of weapons and tools alike was the wheel. The oldest artifact of the wheel is a potter’s wheel found in Mesopotamia and dates back to about 3500 BC. Then came the wooden wheel that were attached to chariots for effective warfare. Then finally, the Celtics applied iron rims on their chariots for added strength, durability and speed. Paired with iron swords and armor, wars became vastly efficient.

Iron wheels, like this one on display at the National Museum of Korea, enhanced existing wooden wheels.

After many years, the Chinese invented gunpowder triggering a new era of warfare. Iron was used to make rifles, cannons and other gunpowder machines to wipe out massive amounts of people at a time.

The invention of gunpowder led to new weapons such as these Iron rifles on display at the National Museum of Korea.

From Iron to Steel

After centuries of iron spearheading the development of new technologies and civilizations alike, a man named Henry Bessemer introduced a process to produce pure iron with a converter in 1856, known as the Bessemer Process. This invention would lead the way to the commercialization of steel and then eventually the industrial revolution near the end of the 18th century.

The steel industry was met with a rampant rise in steel demand during the second industrial revolution nearly a century later, with the introduction of electricity, gas and oil. Steel consumption continued to thrive into the third industrial revolution as it served the foundations for electronics, computers and automated production systems. As the world enters the fourth industrial revolution, steel will continue to be the bedrock of leading innovation and technology including electric vehicles, sustainable energy facilities and smart manufacturing factories.

Automated robots are part of what workplaces will look like in the fourth industrial revolution. (Source: Business Insider)

Looking back on history, the role and value of iron and steel in human development is indisputable. And to think, it all started with the death of a star.

Cover photo courtesy of BBC.

The fourth industrial revolution is heralded by big data, the internet of things, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality, 3D printing and other technological innovations. It’s happening at rapid speed. The steel industry needs to keep up and take advantage of all that this revolution has to offer.

However, the industrial revolution did not happen overnight, and advancements in human development traces back to the Iron Age.  

The Iron Age and How it Impacted Civilization

After the Bronze Age was the Iron Age. People started using iron and steel for tools. This was a huge shift for the world, and helped improve nearly all spheres of life from the spread of written language to more effective agricultural practices. Iron offered more choice. People could forge this material into whatever they needed for tools, weapons, or ornaments and decor.

Blacksmiths would have used tools like this during the Iron Age.

Tools and weapons created during this era often used steel, which was a vast improvement on the bronze items from the previous age. Items made from steel were just as light as bronze, but stronger, so users were able to get more out of each item they created. The strength of these tools made it possible for farmers to plant and harvest more land, faster. It enabled people to sell or trade for livelihood.

The Iron Age is a great example of how the right materials can make life better for everyone.

The New Structure of Steel

As the world moves through the fourth industrial revolution, it is evident the same thing is happening. Instead of improvements in specific materials and tools, however, technology is changing things.

The steel production process can be completed autonomously if the fourth industrial revolution continues the way it is going. This means that manufacturers will be able to have very detailed and thorough control over production, using smart technology that will factor in every element from the surrounding environment to minute details of the material itself. The steel production process will be able to use real-time data to optimize every facet of operations, saving money and time.

Robot arms with artificial intelligence take part in the steel production process. (Source: Telenor Connexion)

The steel value chain is affected by changes in the provision of after-sales service, owing to new technology. Manufacturers can use smart technology to track how users interact with their completed products and offer better customer service as a result.

Again, real-time information comes into play, allowing steel companies to see exactly how orders are being created, fulfilled and used, as it is happening. Customer needs are met with ease and speed, all tracked and analyzed digitally.

Competition in the steel industry will be affected by this revolution, too. Competitors can see how other companies are using big data and automation to save money and offer a better customer experience, and use those details to revolutionize their offerings. Online steel transaction platforms make this transparency even more accessible, for companies and clients alike.

Implications on the Steel Industry

To keep up with this revolution, and make the most of it, steel companies need to understand the implications on the industry and plan for the future. New technology is only going to become more widespread, more common, and more advanced. Companies need to be ready to react.

Integrating technology and smart software is the ideal way for steel companies, and the industry at large, to take advantage of this new revolution and use it to create better products and better customer relationships.

To get an idea of how to best integrate new tech into existing steel practices, POSCO’s smart steel factory is a prime example, currently being tested at the Gwangyang Steel Mill. POSCO’s smart factories will collect and analyze all of the microdata generated in the steel production process, to determine the cause of every event that impacts quality or production in general.

An image of how POSCO’s Smart Factory will be run.

From facilities to energy and environment, to safety and conditions, the smart factory will monitor everything. And it will respond accordingly to make the best quality steel possible.

Self-learning artificial intelligence ensures that the process of steelmaking is carefully controlled, with adjustments made in real-time to directly and positively impact the result. The smart factories will use technology to fill the gaps where human capabilities are simply no match for software.

The world has come a long way since the Iron Age and through the various industrial revolutions. In the current fourth industrial revolution, steel companies have to take advantage of new technology and innovations by figuring out ways to apply them to steelmaking processes. POSCO has made this a top priority as it continues to research, educate and implement smart technologies to its production processes and materials and will lead the way for steel companies to follow through the fourth industrial revolution.   

Cover photo courtesy of Manufacturing Global.

With the emergence of the 4th industrial revolution as a hot topic of the world economy, AI is expected to drive manufacturing innovation by providing breakthroughs in smart factories.

POSCO Smart factory in Gwangyang

In his recent POSCO Issue Report, Kim Ho-In, a senior researcher at POSRI, examined what innovations AI can bring to the upgrowth of smart factories, and identified key issues related to such technological introductions.

Smart Factory Takes Wing with AI

Kim looked at how AI will provide breakthroughs in areas of manufacturing, such as preventive system maintenance, process control, expert process control and robot automation, and how AI  will make smart factories more efficient, less wasteful and more productive.

Traditional stock, inventory and statistical analysis provided insufficient information for preventing factory defaults, and made certain failures inevitable. With AI, however, factories can predict quality deficiency, gather and analyze complex data and improve equipment reliability. Also, by integrating such intelligence with robots, there are now self-learning, versatile beings that can automatically overhaul and optimize system defaults.

Thus the ability to self-teach, analyze and create will lead to a more comprehensive statistical analysis and achieve positive results in preventive maintenance.

The Right Kind of Smart

The different innovative tools in smart factories, however, may have distinct values depending on its application for the industry in question, so while such technological advances may be a breakthrough for manufacturing, companies must apply the tools that are most effective for their field and industry.

AI that can self-teach, analyze and create in a smart factory

For instance, the technology required for “smartization” is entirely different for assembly process industries such as parts production, automotive and electronics, than from mechanisms industries such as metals, chemicals and energy.

In the assembly process industries, customizing production, cutting labor costs and responding to the fast life cycle of products are the major areas for innovation. AI applications like robot automation can guarantee positive results because many production processes can be replaced with robots, resulting in minimized labor costs.

In the process equipment industries, however, improving productivity through optimal control of core processes, controlling the linkage between processes and maintaining the facility are the major issues. The loss of data can be extremely critical in the case of a core facility failure, so preventive equipment maintenance would have a greater impact than robot automation.

The investment size and outcome value for implementation and innovation of smart factories will differ by industry. Thus it is necessary to build up strategies on technologies that are most suitable for each required field.

Smart Reconstruction

Recently, the world’s fifth largest blast furnace located in Pohang Works, went through major renovations to “go smart”. The Pohang Blast Furnace No.3 was first fired up in 1978 with an internal volume of 3795㎥, and was repaired in 1989, 2006 and finally in 2017, when it leaped toward POSCO’s vision of “smartization”.

After a 102-day repair period, the furnace volume expanded to 5600㎥, and the site is now fully equipped with AI to precisely monitor the condition of the blast furnace.

The Blast Furnace No.3 dismantled at the start of the repairing process

Engineers, including Gi Wan Son, Blast Furnace No.3 Repair Quality PJT team leader, worked on all three renovations and provided exceptional knowledge based on more than 40 years of experience with the Blast Furnace No.3. According to Son, the main focus was to build a smart technology infrastructure that utilizes AI and collects big data.

POSCO added smart sensors that automatically monitor the internal state of the blast furnace such as raw material quality and ventilator status. Both measures are expected to help forecast and extend the lifespan of the blast furnace to longer than the average period of 15 years.

[clickToTweet tweet=”POSCO Blast Furnace No.3 will lead the future of  blast furnaces for another 50 years if we incorporate POSCO’s advanced technologies” – Gi Wan Son, Blast Furnace No.3 Repair Quality PJT team leader” quote=”POSCO Blast Furnace No.3 will lead the future of  blast furnaces for another 50 years if we incorporate POSCO’s advanced technologies” – Gi Wan Son, Blast Furnace No.3 Repair Quality PJT team leader” theme=”style6″]

Though in its early stages, AI has already had a significant impact on smart factories and further innovations are expected. The manufacturing industry needs to pay close attention to the future scope of AI development and how it will allow them to overcome existing challenges and open doors to a limitless future.

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SMK has been held biennially since 2010 and is an exhibition that highlights steel and nonferrous metals. The event receives great attention globally for its focus on metal materials but also on other technological aspects, including tubing, piping, metallurgy technology, equipment, and the metal business.

By participating in SMK for four consecutive years, POSCO has experienced the accompanied growth of small business participants through close interaction. Through exhibiting the high technical skills it maintains as the leading domestic steel company, POSCO has also contributed to the growth of small businesses.

For this year, POSCO set up a booth at the convention with four different zones, all under the concept of attracting visitors. The booth introduced how WP products can be used in daily life through differentiated exhibitions.

Introducing POSCO’s world-class steel technology

Visitors could experience how WP products could be used in different industries through the divided zones: “Automotive”, which revealed how WP products could be applied to an automobile’s interior and exterior, “Living”, which showed customers how to get acquainted with WP products for daily home use along with “Infra” (infrastructure), which is meant to increase and encourage customer partnerships.

The last and most popular area was the “Hero” zone, which allowed visitors to experience a 360-degree view of the complete steel production process through VR. The footage showed everything from loading and unloading raw materials, to shipping the products.

Since the Automotive zone displayed cars made from POSCO steel sheets, it was possible for consumers to see the technology applied to both the interiors and exteriors of the cars. Models that were displayed included the POSCO Body Concept-Electric Vehicle (PBC-EV), Renault’s Chassis and SM6 BIW (Body in White), as well as examples from MG. All models were manufactured with high-strength body and chassis parts from POSCO.

The company brought car body parts to the exhibition, and incorporated them to show which areas of the automobiles used their special steel sheets. The exhibition also drew the highest attention because of an inclined display, which showed how the inner dynamics of the car would appear as if it were driving on a hill.

The Living zone had a setting modeled after a real home, introducing WP products for daily life usage. Visitors could see the premium home appliances and household products made from POSCO steel in each room of the house, including the living room, utility room, study room and kitchen.

Widely used POSCO WP products were displayed in each room: a washer and an air conditioner in the utility room, a refrigerator, sink, and cooking tools in the kitchen, a computer and a printer in the study room and a TV in the living room.

The Infra zone helped visitors have a better understanding of the principles behind making stronger and safer construction sites, LGN carriers and suspension bridges with POSCO’s structural steel products, such as PosCozy, PosMAC and UL700. Visitors could touch the products, including high manganese, high damping steel and cable bridges that prevent noise between floors. The exhibition also compared POSCO’s steel products to products made from average steel, to help visitors experience the true quality of the company’s premium steel.

Lastly, the Hero zone was highlighted as the most future-oriented space at SMK 2016. The VR component provided a realistic and exciting video tour of the production process at the steelworks – a 360-degree video and immersive sound experience made viewers feel as if they were actually standing in the center of the steelworks.

Besides the featured products in the Hero zone, visitors could also enjoy the kinetic art performance that took place every 30 minutes in the center of the exhibition space. This performance utilized POSCO’s stainless steel in the form of wires, showcasing a fluid steel movement show with a background of beautiful music.

POSCO displayed yet another substantial and high-quality exhibition at SMK 2016, and we are already looking forward to seeing what the company has in store for the next time around.

POSCO to Use VR Content to Promote Its Steel Products and Exceptional Manufacturing Process

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Surgical stainless steel plays a vital role in the medical industry – it is used for a range of instruments, as well as orthopedic implants, such as bone screws and plates.

Precision Instruments

Scalpels are an invaluable tool, used to perform a broad range of surgical procedures. The use of scalpel-like instruments actually dates back to ancient Egypt, when special knives were used for embalming the bodies of members of the royal family. However, it was not until 1915 that Charles Russell Bard and Morgan Parker developed and patented the modern two-part scalpel, which consists of a blade and a handle.

Most commonly known as the B.P. handle scalpel, this features a blade forged from type 316L stainless steel, the type of steel that is most resistant to corrosion in the face of direct contact with biological fluid. Stainless steel is an alloy that contains 16 percent chromium, helping boost its famous corrosion resistance.

While performing any type of procedure, be it minor or extensive, surgeons need access to a wide range of instruments. In addition to scalpels, many other surgical tools are made from stainless steel.

These include Mayo scissors, both straight-blade and curved-blade variations, which are made from stainless steel, although more expensive titanium versions are also available. Straight and curved Mayo scissors are designed for cutting body tissue, as well as cutting sutures – essential steps for a host of different surgical procedures.

Another very common instrument used in hospitals and clinics around the world is the hypodermic needle. This is a hollow needle, used with a syringe to inject or extract fluids from the body. Many consider it to be one of the most important tools in modern medicine.

The hypodermic needle has gone largely unchanged for the past century, and because of its ability to remain sterile if treated properly, it has helped to significantly reduce the risk of contamination during medical care.

Stronger Orthopedic Implant Support

Metal alloys have been used for orthopedic implants since the beginning of the 20^th Century. Before this, medical professionals had experimented with the use of materials such as ivory, rubber, acrylic and even wood, but most ended up causing further health complications for patients.

Medscape mentions that metals made from iron, cobalt, chromium, titanium and tantalum are commonly used in modern procedures, as alloys made from these materials can be used safely and effectively. Medscape also states that these alloys’ mechanical, biological and physical properties play significant roles in the longevity of such implants.

The Journal for Orthopedic Science explains that stainless steel plates used for the internal fixation of fractures have been used for more than 100 years, when a medical company called Lane first introduced the metal plate. The journal notes that in 1912, another company, Sherman, introduced internal fracture fixation pieces that made improvements to the metallurgical formulation of the plate, increasing corrosion resistance.

Surgical stainless steel alloys (316L) are made from varying amounts of iron, chromium and nickel, and are currently used in the manufacturing of prostheses. Many orthopedic implants are still made of surgical stainless steel, and the material is used mainly for plates, screws and intramedullary devices.

New Medical Possibilities

In the world of advanced health technology, surgical robotics is becoming increasingly prevalent. Although skilled human technicians are still essential, surgical machines can perform less invasive tasks, and often enable a faster recovery time for patients.

Driving the success in many of these medical robots are stainless steel motors, which allow for aseptic conditions (freedom from contamination). Surgical robots also use metal alloy arms and hydraulics in order to perform the intricate operations – all requiring yet more steel.

Important Resource

Surgical stainless steel’s medical adaptability makes it a cornerstone material for doctors around the world. It is readily available, affordable and interchangeable – making it perfect for blades, needles, tools, implants and even robotics.

The use of surgical stainless steel often provides patients with faster recovery times – a factor that means that just about any medical environment you come across will bring you into contact with safe and sterile surgical stainless steel.

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Smart Cities automatically detect cars, adjusting traffic lights to optimize flow. Smart Homes know when to turn the lights on and off or when to order more groceries. And Smart Devices track people’s movements, their biorhythms and more, so people can better take care of their health.

The Internet of Things (IoT) can also be elegantly simple. For example, Amazon has launched the innovative Amazon Dash, a simple, Wi-Fi-enabled button that can be attached to items around the home, and with a press it orders more of that item. Amazon Dash can be used to order paper towels, diapers, laundry detergent and other commonly used consumer products, connecting your home, making it smarter, and adding a new kind of convenience.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has come to POSCO, too, particularly when it comes to safety. As part of an approach to developing solutions called POSCO’s “Smart Safety,” POSCO is using the Internet of Things to improve safety awareness, reduce risks and get all our employees invested in being actively involved in safety.

POSCO’s Smart Safety Case Studies: Wearables to Ensure Safety

The current focus for improving safety in the workplace focuses on removing risks and raising awareness, to change people’s habits and sense of ownership. By combining these activities with the IoT, POSCO is looking to provide more scientific and efficient solutions.

Two case studies highlight the potential power of POSCO’s Smart Safety approach. One is using Internet of Things (IoT) technology to protect against gas leaks in factories. To guard against dangerous gases, POSCO uses sensors, constantly checking the air to make sure it is not poisonous or suffocating.

By connecting these sensors to employees’ smart watches, POSCO is able to increase the intelligence and speed of these safety networks. When a sensor detects a dangerous gas, it can immediately connect to everyone’s wearable devices, so they can instantly learn there is a problem and quickly get clear of the danger zone.

In addition, by analyzing information about the gas leak, the factory safety systems can automatically determine where the leak is originating and block the valves around it.

For the second case study, POSCO proposed adding additional sensors and safety equipment to employees’ clothing, giving them additional IoT protection even when working alone. In the hard hat, an accelerometer and other sensors could be added to monitor each person and protect against falls, gases and other dangers. In the safety vest, biosensors monitor heart rate, body temperature and other personal conditions. And a GPS sensor in the safety vest could ensure the company knows where its employees are, to better ensure their safety during an emergency.

By making our employees’ clothes into smart clothes, we can greatly increase awareness of and responsiveness to potential problems, which means reducing risk and keeping all workers safer.

Using Competition to Get Everyone Involved in Safety

POSCO has also worked to get everyone more involved in promoting safety through a Smart Safety Idea Competition. The entire company participated in this contest, held from March 21 to April 10, with 1,072 ideas officially submitted.

Among the ideas about how to incorporate IoT technology to improve safety were using location-based services to monitor workers in the factory; risk-monitoring on large vehicles like cranes and handling equipment; wearable devices to monitor worker health; and using aerial drones to monitor for gas leaks.

Employees’ strongest ideas will be picked, judged on effectiveness, realism, economics and related criteria. The winners of the safety competition will be announced in June.

Embracing Technology to Always Put Safety First

POSCO has long been an innovator in the steel industry, always looking to use the latest technology to create the best-possible products. And it’s no different when it comes to safety—any and all tools are welcome if they can help make the POSCO workplaces better for our employees.

The Internet of Things is transforming our world, making all sorts of everyday objects smarter and more connected, and that’s an innovation that can make a real difference in the steel industry. By being at the forefront of implementing the latest technology into a new safety paradigm, POSCO is showing its dedication to becoming “POSCO the Great.”

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In the construction industry, for example, steel provides equipment such as cranes, drills, bulldozers and scaffolding. From basic hoes, shovels and forks, to modern ploughs, irrigation systems and grain storage silos, steel also makes agriculture easier and more efficient. Likewise, almost every form of human communication uses steel in some way. Newspapers and books wouldn’t exist without steel presses, while computers and pens contain the metal and are produced with steel equipment.

As such, it’s no surprise that tools and machinery make up a big portion of all steel products. In fact, in 2014 alone, tools and machinery represented approximately 14 percent of global steel use.

This month, The Steel Wire will explore today’s most innovative tools and machinery made from steel. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store for April’s content.

A Cut Above the Rest: Wear-Resistant Steel Knives Enhance Sustainability

In Brazil, sugar cane straw is commonly utilized as a renewable energy source, and is widely used to produce fuel for cars. Brazilian company Fácil System recently developed wear-resistant steel knives for its raw material shredding mill, making the sugar cane shredding process more efficient. The innovative use of wear-resistant steel extends the service life of the knives, thus lowering maintenance costs and delivering energy savings.

Bridging the Gap: How the World’s First 3D-Printed Steel Bridge Is Transforming Construction

Dutch startup MX3D began construction last year on the world’s first 3D-printed metal bridge—a technique that could soon become standard on future construction sites. The steel bridge, which is being constructed using two modified, multi-axis robotic arms, is on track to be completed by 2017 and will be placed on a canal in Amsterdam.

Heavy Lifting Made Easy with New Steel Adaptable Crane Section

The Boom Booster is a highly innovative design unlike any other boom system on the market and was developed by Terex Cranes Germany to dramatically increase the performance of its existing cranes. It utilizes a variety of high-strength steel for components like the trusses, tube members and bolted joints.

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Athletes who have lost a limb, either through an accident or birth defect, often times adopt a new steel body part. For some, that means learning how to balance and walk all over again. It takes mental and physical strength, determination and willpower to beat adversity and overcome such difficulties. The hard work and resilience of amputee athletes can be transformed into dreams, thanks to the power of steel.

Inspirational Athletes

Following a serious car accident in 1979, Tom Whittaker’s right foot was amputated. Despite being fitted with a prosthetic foot, he refused to give up his love of mountain climbing and worked continuously to regain his strength. Two years after his accident, he founded the Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group (C.W.HOG) in Pocatello, Idaho, where he remained active in the local climbing community.

In May 1998, on his third attempt, Whittaker lived out his lifelong dream of reaching the summit of Mt. Everest, making him the first person with a disability to accomplish the feat. Through continued training, his prosthetic foot has become an advantage to climbing rather than a disadvantage, and he remains on his quest to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents.

Another inspirational Paralympian is Aimee Mullins. She was born with Fibular Hemimelia, a birth defect that left her without either calf bone. Mullins had both of her legs amputated below the knee on her first birthday and she learned to walk with prosthetic legs by the time she was two. She competed at the national and international levels as a champion sprinter, and set world records at the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta. She now works as a model, actress and advocate for the future of prosthetics.

Some people call Mullins and people like her disabled, but she doesn’t think of herself in that way. She describes herself as “super bodied” thanks to the variety of prosthetic legs that she can choose to wear depending on what she wants to do on any given day.

When Kelly Cartwright was 15, doctors discovered cancer in her leg. Unable to undergo chemotherapy, she had no choice but to have her leg amputated. This life-changing event, however, didn’t stop Cartwright from pursuing her dreams. In 2008, she competed at her first Paralympic Games in Beijing and finished sixth in the 100 meter sprint. Four years later, at the London 2012 Paralympics, she won two medals—gold in the long jump and silver in the 100 meter sprint.

Making Prosthetic Limbs

Amputee athletes are revolutionizing prosthetics by turning their limbs into sport-specific power tools. From hands shaped like ice axes to blade runners for feet, these prostheses are smarter, lighter and stronger than ever before.

The typical prosthetic device consists of a custom fitted socket and a pylon, the internal frame or skeleton of the prosthetic limb. The pylon must provide structural support and has traditionally been formed with metal rods. A variety of other components, such as knees and rotators, are made with aluminum, stainless steel and titanium.

Steel is strong, but it is also heavy, so nowadays steel is primarily used to create small components that rely more on the strength of the material than the geometry of the design. By using a variety of materials, it’s possible to design prosthetics to fit the individual need of each amputee.

Thanks to the development of steel and the transformation of related technology, amputees have been granted limitless opportunities and with that, these talented, hard-working and determined athletes are changing the world’s perception of what’s possible.

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Throughout March, The Steel Wire will take an in-depth look at the people of steel. From stories of those who actively play a part in the steel industry to those who are directly affected by the products made from steel, we will bring you features that will illustrate just how significant the industry truly is.

Here’s a preview of what to expect this month:

The Women of Steel

Although the steel industry is often considered a “man’s industry,” more and more women are beginning to pursue jobs in this field. With grit, determination and strength, inside and out, these women now account for 20 percent of the salaried and managerial ranks, and 10 percent of hourly workers. In honor of International Women’s Day, we investigate the challenges that women endured over the years as they pursued work in the field.

Limbs of Steel: How Prosthetics are Powering Athletes with Disabilities

Today’s most driven athletes with disabilities are transforming prosthetics by turning their limbs into sport-specific power tools. From hands shaped like ice axes to blade runners for feet, these prostheses are smarter, lighter, stronger and more efficient than ever before, all thanks to steel. Meet some of the most inspiring athletes out there—men and women who have overcome physical challenges to cross finish lines at record speeds, power across swimming pools and climb the world’s biggest mountains.

The World’s Most Famous Blacksmiths

Blacksmithing is an ancient art that dates back to the Iron Age, when primitive man first began making tools from iron. Since then, there have been a select few blacksmiths who have particularly made their mark on the steel industry. Often times these smiths and their weapons are closely associated with famous figures in time. This article will take a look at some of the most famous of the lot.

Fishing for a Solution: How an Iron Fish is Treating Anemia

Anemia is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world, affecting 2 billion people globally. But Canadian scientists have come up with an ingenious solution to help alleviate the problem. Meet the Lucky Iron Fish—a fish-shaped chunk of iron that’s put into a pot and boiled with lemon to give adults 75 percent of their daily recommended iron intake, and close to 100 percent for kids in nations where anemia is prevalent.

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