SeAH Besteel localises special steel for robot reducers, starts mass production
In short
SeAH Besteel said on October 6 that it has developed and commercialised a special steel material for robot reducers, the joint-like components that control motor speed in robots. The material is used in the flex spline, a part that transmits motor power inside the reducer, and the company said it has entered mass production after starting supply to domestic precision reducer maker SPSG in February. SeAH Besteel added that it plans to develop more steel grades for humanoid robots.
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SeAH Besteel said on October 6 that it has developed and commercialised a special steel material for robot reducers, the components that act as a robot's joints by controlling the high rotation speed of a motor so that arms and legs move at the intended speed and force. The material is applied to the flex spline, a core part that transmits motor power inside the reducer, the company said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to the company, the material is designed so that the smaller the clearance between meshing reducer gears, the more precise the robot's movement. SeAH Besteel said its own alloy design reduces minute shape deformation that can occur during heat treatment, and that the material minimises deformation under changing temperatures and impact while improving machinability and dimensional precision. [ 1 , 2 ]
The company said it also raised the material's fatigue life, in view of the repeated movement reducers must withstand. It used immersion-reflux vacuum equipment to remove fine impurities during refining and minimised non-metallic inclusions that can cause micro-cracks, producing what it described as ultra-clean steel. [ 1 , 2 ]
SeAH Besteel said it began supplying industrial robot reducer material to SPSG, described in the reports as a leading domestic precision reducer company, in February and has now entered the mass production stage. The company added that it plans to develop further steel grades that can be used in humanoid robots, building on the flex spline material. [ 1 , 2 ]
A SeAH Besteel official said that succeeding in domestic mass production in a robot reducer steel market that has depended almost entirely on a small number of overseas companies, including Japanese ones, is a meaningful achievement, adding that the company will lead the localisation of high-quality special steel and contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the domestic robot industry. [ 1 , 2 ]
The development was reported by Asia Economy and Yonhap in full and by Chosun Ilbo in a shorter summary carrying the same core points. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The announcement points to a domestic supply chain for a material that Korean robot makers have largely bought from a small number of overseas suppliers, mostly in Japan. If the material holds up in mass production, it could support the domestic robot industry's competitiveness, as the company claims, though the documents give no figures on volumes, customers or market share.
Key facts
- SeAH Besteel said it succeeded in developing and commercialising a special steel material for robot reducers. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The material is applied to the flex spline, a core part that transmits motor power inside the reducer. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The company said its own alloy design reduces minute shape deformation during heat treatment and improves machinability and dimensional precision. [ 1 , 2 ]
- SeAH Besteel said it used immersion-reflux vacuum equipment in refining to minimise non-metallic inclusions, producing ultra-clean steel. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The company began supplying industrial robot reducer material to domestic precision reducer maker SPSG in February and has now entered mass production. [ 1 , 2 ]
- SeAH Besteel plans to develop additional steel grades for humanoid robots. [ 1 , 2 ]
- A SeAH Besteel official called producing the material domestically through mass production a meaningful achievement and said the company will lead localisation to strengthen the domestic robot industry. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- SeAH Besteel announced on October 6 that it developed and commercialised special steel for robot reducers, applied to the flex spline. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The company began supplying industrial robot reducer material to SPSG in February and is now at the mass production stage. [ 1 , 2 ]
- SeAH Besteel plans to add steel grades for humanoid robots. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- No supply volumes, contract values or customer names beyond SPSG are given. Both full-text documents describe the technology and the start of supply but give no commercial figures.
- The extent to which the material replaces Japanese or other overseas supply is asserted by the company only. The claim that the market has depended almost entirely on a small number of overseas firms, mainly Japanese, comes from a SeAH Besteel official and is not independently verified in the documents.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- SeAH Besteel begins supplying industrial robot reducer steel material to domestic precision reducer maker SPSG. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Asia Economy publishes its report on the development and mass production of the reducer steel. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap publishes its report on the same announcement. [ 2 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes a summary report on the development. [ 3 ]