LS Group Chairman Christopher Koo makes an inspection tour to LS-Nikko Copper. (Photos: LS Group)

LS Group is turning to strategies such as the so-called R&D speed-up and digital transformation to brace for the future growth of the group. The group is accelerating efforts to supply core equipment and materials, as well as technologies and expand overseas investments in the power infrastructure and smart energy digital transformation sectors, whose global demand is on a rise.

LS-Nikko Copper is implementing a project to introduce the Onsan Digital Smelter, a smart factory process for a smelter in Onsan. The Onsan plant, boasting the world’s second-highest production, will be the first global smelter not only to ramp up production efficiency and safety, but also to embrace the protection of the environment.

LS-Nikko Copper, winning a series of contracts to purchase copper concentrates of late, is in a better position in a global race to secure raw materials. Swelters’ securing quality cooper raw materials has something to do with the stabilization of production.

The company struck a contract to buy 560,000 tons of copper concentrate over 10 years with Misur of Peru last September. Three months later, LS-Nikko Copper signed a deal with BHP, one of the world’s largest miners, to purchase 1.65 million tons of copper concentrate over five years, the largest-ever procurement in its corporate history.

In particular, a purity class of copper concentrate, standing between 30 percent and 40 percent, is superior to its counterparts fetching a range of 25 percent. It is expected to contribute to better production efficiency.

LS-Nikko Copper’s innovation projects to cut down on costs have paid off. The company made a feast of producing 650,000 tons of electrolytic copper, the larges-ever production, last year.

LS Mtron is a maker of industrial machinery and high-tech components. LS Mtron’s plant in Jeonju became the first Korean production center to see annual tractor production surpass 20,000 units last December. The feat is owed to LS Mtron’s raising production capacity based on digital transformation.

LS Mtron is employing digital transformation technologies such as computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). Smart factory-enabled infrastructure has contributed to reducing waste and maxing out production efficiency. It has enabled the company to raise its annual tractor production from 10,000 units to 20,000 units for the first time in eight years.

LS Group convened the LS T-Fair 2018, a session to share R&D outcomes among group subsidiaries, at LS Tower in Anyang, Gyeonggi-do, last September. T-Fair is held annually since 2004 to ramp up groupwide technology competitiveness.

T-Fair 2019, which will take place this year, is the 14th rendition of fair. About 400 people, including LS Group Chairman Christopher Koo, LS Cable & System Chairman Koo Cha-yup, CEOs of subsidiaries, CTOs and researchers, took part in the T-Fair 2018. The fair served as an opportunity to share each year’s R&D outcomes, present excellent tasks and award prizes.

The T-Fair 2018 showcased future technologies employing digital transformation for which the group began to push last year, a departure from that of the previous year.

LS Group Chairman Christopher Koo looks at a tractor gear line of LS Mtron plant in Jeonju.