Hosted by Shanghai Meishan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. and undertaken by the Jiangsu Association for Artificial Intelligence, the AI+Manufacturing Application Scenario Press Conference was successfully convened on June 12.

As a key partner, Luculent was invited to the event. Mao Xuchu, Deputy General Manager of the company, delivered a keynote speech titled Bridging the AI Divide to Build Smart Iron and Steel Enterprises, offering an in-depth interpretation of the implementation pathways and practical achievements of artificial intelligence applied in the iron and steel industry.

The iron and steel sector is currently undergoing accelerated digital and intelligent transformation. During the industrial rollout of AI, enterprises are confronted with multiple bottlenecks: difficulties in selecting viable application scenarios, insufficient platform adaptability, inconsistent industrial standards, and challenges in quantifying tangible value. Additional hurdles including poor model interpretability, limited adaptability to complex working conditions, and the lack of a closed-loop input-output mechanism have become major barriers preventing the iron and steel industry from crossing the AI application divide.

"The digital and intelligent transformation of iron and steel enterprises is far more than simply migrating offline systems online; it represents a systematic revolution spanning technology, business and organizational governance," Mao Xuchu noted in his speech. He proposed that steel manufacturers should build an AI-native system, gradually evolving from AI supplementation and auxiliary AI applications to AI collaboration and coordination, and ultimately embracing an entirely new development model driven by artificial intelligence.

To address prevailing industrial pain points, Luculent has proposed a three-pronged solution of building platforms, developing applications and fostering a digital culture, anchored to four core objectives: enhanced safety, improved cost efficiency, greener operations and higher productivity. The company provides tailor-made full-stack AI transformation pathways for iron and steel enterprises.

I. Build an AI-Native Technology Platform to Consolidate the Foundation of Digital & Intelligent Transformation

Luculent has developed six underlying platforms, namely the industrial large model, agent orchestration platform, AI algorithm factory, industrial Internet of Things, digital twin and data middle office, forming a cloud-edge collaborative and independently controllable technology infrastructure.

By establishing unified data standards and a governance framework, the company breaks down data silos to realize consistent data sources across all production processes and full-link visual management. Leveraging the digital twin platform, bidirectional mapping between physical production lines and digital spaces is achieved, delivering a high-fidelity environment for AI model training, scenario simulation and decision deduction, which underpins precise control and risk prediction amid complex operating conditions.

II. Deepen Full-Value-Chain Scenario Implementation to Unlock High Value from AI-enabled Applications

A high-value scenario matrix covering all iron and steel production processes has been developed to fuel industrial upgrading in an all-round manner:

• Strengthen safety production safeguards: A device fault early warning system built on the integrated architecture of large and small models has successfully issued more than 200 fault alerts, cutting direct economic losses by over 50 million yuan annually.

• Tap into energy conservation and consumption reduction potential: The AI energy optimization solution for dust removal fans has been deployed at over 50 steel enterprises, delivering an average power saving rate exceeding 10%.

• Advance green and low-carbon development: Intelligent micro-positive pressure control for furnace mouths adopts visual AI technology to boost coal gas recovery, generating an annual revenue increase of over 3 million yuan for a single 2-million-ton annual-capacity converter.

• Boost overall operational efficiency: Multiple intelligent agent assistants built upon the Suchang Yaoguang Industrial Large Model autonomously execute data inquiries, report analysis, fault troubleshooting and other tasks, streamlining office workflows, cutting manpower time consumption and lifting the enterprise’s overall operational efficiency by 30%.

III. Advocate Company-wide AI Adoption to Foster an Innovative Cultural Ecosystem

The enterprise hosts digital intelligence competitions, vocational skills training sessions and cross-departmental project initiatives to drive in-depth integration of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT), bridging the gap between technical development and business operations. A vibrant AI innovation ecosystem is cultivated where every employee can participate and innovation can thrive everywhere. Frontline staff are encouraged to propose scenario demands, deploy intelligent tools and create commercial value, enabling the synchronized advancement of technological empowerment and organizational capability upgrading.

Following the keynote session, a strategic cooperation signing ceremony was held during the press conference. Luculent entered into a tripartite cooperation agreement with Shanghai Meishan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. and Baosight Software (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. Leveraging respective strengths in technology, industry layout and resource reserves, the three parties will jointly develop benchmark digital and intelligent industrial cases through deepened collaboration on AI-enabled iron and steel manufacturing scenarios, industrial large model application and digital twin factory construction, facilitating the high-quality transformation of the iron and steel industry.

Looking ahead, Luculent will join hands with more industrial chain partners to forge a brand-new blueprint for AI-driven smart manufacturing.