Gwo-Lian Machinery Chairman Chen Chih-Hung expressed his enthusiasm for the breakthrough, stating that the AI-Powered Smart Factory for Wire Drawing has already resulted in 26 invention patent applications. The system is currently undergoing pilot production at one of the world’s largest steel manufacturers by production capacity.

According to Chen, this milestone demonstrates that Taiwan has made significant advances in intelligent metal processing, reaching a level that surpasses traditional industrial powerhouses such as Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Japan in this field, and positioning Taiwan at the forefront of the digital transformation of the global wire drawing industry.

The system not only enables 24/7 unmanned production and remote monitoring, but more importantly delivers comprehensive control over product quality and manufacturing costs. Through the application of AI technologies, the smart factory is designed to eliminate defects caused by human operating errors, significantly reduce labor costs, and improve overall production efficiency.

The smart factory consists of multiple intelligent automation systems and key pieces of equipment, including AGV/RGV automated material handling vehicles, an intelligent turnover feeding system, a gantry robotic unloading system, and an automated packaging and labeling system.

At the heart of the smart factory are two major software platforms.

The first is the Central SCADA Control Room System, which integrates communication protocols across heterogeneous equipment and establishes a streamlined platform for machine-to-machine communication and centralized control. The system incorporates automatic correction functions as well as safety interlocks and protective controls designed to prevent equipment collisions and occupational safety incidents, ensuring smooth and reliable production processes.

The second is the AI Self-Learning and Production Recipe Management System. The system automatically records machine characteristics and operating parameters associated with different materials and wire diameters, storing the optimized parameters as “optimal production recipes.” When the same product specification is produced again, the corresponding recipe can be retrieved and transferred to the MES (Manufacturing Execution System) for execution with a single command.

Through the system’s self-learning capabilities, even operators with limited experience can quickly become familiar with production operations while leveraging accumulated manufacturing knowledge.

Gwo-Lian has further incorporated Digital Twin technology, integrating automated data acquisition, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) analysis, and 3D visualized shop-floor management into the smart factory architecture.

Chen emphasized that this innovation is transforming the traditional image of the industry as dirty, physically demanding, and heavily dependent on manual labor. Instead, the factory is evolving into what he describes as an “AI-powered intelligent organism” capable of sensing, learning, and continuously optimizing itself.

Through AI analytics modules, the factory can automatically identify optimal production procedures, maximize operational efficiency, and determine energy-efficient operating modes. As production data continues to accumulate over time, the system is expected to evolve into a company-specific “ChatGPT for Manufacturing,” transforming accumulated manufacturing data and operational experience into reusable production intelligence.

Gwo-Lian Machinery recently participated in Wire Düsseldorf, the International Wire and Cable Trade Fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, where its latest innovations attracted significant attention from several major international manufacturers seeking comprehensive turnkey smart factory solutions.

Chen emphasized that Gwo-Lian Machinery is a leading global supplier of wire drawing equipment, dedicated to developing intelligent manufacturing solutions characterized by high efficiency and low energy consumption.

By integrating mechanical engineering expertise with software development capabilities, Gwo-Lian is committed to helping customers around the world accelerate their digital transformation and build more competitive factories of the future.

Gwo-Lian Machinery looks forward to engaging with industry leaders and partners interested in advancing AI-powered smart factories, sharing its latest R&D achievements, and working together to shape the future of the global wire manufacturing industry.

Source: Economic Daily News (Taiwan) — Lee Fu-Chung