Siemens Digital Industries Korea (hereinafter referred to as Siemens DI Korea) is leading the digital transformation of the domestic marine industry by undertaking a project to modernize the core systems of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' offshore crane barge.

Siemens DI Korea announced on the 18th that it had received an order from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for a project to modernize the core control system of the 10,000-ton offshore crane barge 'HYUNDAI-10000' currently in operation in Ulsan.

This project began in response to the customer's request to improve the performance of the main crane and positioning winch system. Siemens conducted an on-site evaluation in July 2023, proposed a customized migration solution, and signed an official contract in August.

The main contents are upgrading the existing S7-300 and discontinued S7-400H PLCs to the latest SIMATIC S7-400H series and introducing the latest distributed I/O modules such as ET200SP HA, ET200SP, and ET200MP.

Additionally, third-party HMIs are replaced with SIMATIC touch panels equipped with advanced visualization software.

The communication backbone will be replaced with the SCALANCE-X series, replacing aging network cables.are replaced by the SCALANCE-XC series and new cables.

The controller of the existing SINAMICS S120 drive system has been updated to form a single redundant system, and the drive control sequence has been separated and improved to address problems that may arise during operation.

This digital transformation is expected to extend the life of the 'HYUNDAI-10000's' core systems, reduce maintenance and spare parts costs, and increase operator efficiency.

In particular, the robust network redundancy configuration and optimized drive control sequence based on the S7-400H are expected to significantly reduce system downtime and improve overall operational efficiency.

A Siemens Korea DI official said, “Siemens is continuously pursuing digital-based manufacturing innovation to enhance our customers’ operational efficiency and competitiveness,” and “This project is a representative example of how Siemens’ advanced technology and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ industrial expertise are coming together to accelerate the digital transformation of the marine industry.”

An official from Hyundai Heavy Industries said, “Through this project, we were able to complete the PLC replacement work for HD10000 in a timely manner, and we experienced the improved operational efficiency and stability directly from the first installation work.” He added, “Through continued technical cooperation with Siemens, we will further accelerate the digital transformation of the shipbuilding and marine industries.”

Meanwhile, Siemens DI Korea will host the "Siemens Shipbuilding & Marine Industry Innovation Webinar" on Friday, September 19th. This webinar will present strategies for securing real competitiveness through digital transformation and sustainable industrial innovation plans.