Hansol Paper picked for state-backed AI factory programme to cut papermaking energy use

Hansol Paper has been selected for a South Korean government-backed AI factory programme aimed at cutting steam and energy use in papermaking, part of a seven-party consortium running to 2029 with total investment of KRW 12.2bn (USD 9.16m), including KRW 8.5bn (USD 6.4m) in state funding. The project will develop AI tools for steam optimisation, predictive maintenance and safety management, with the aim of an autonomous plant and a standard model extendable to smaller suppliers.

Why this mattersThe project targets steam-intensive drying, one of papermaking's largest cost and carbon items, and is built to share results with smaller suppliers lacking their own investment capacity.

• Hansol Paper was selected for a papermaking AI factory programme linking large and smaller companies, run by South Korea's Ministry of Trade and Industry
• The project runs for about four years to 2029 with total investment of KRW 12.2bn (USD 9.16m), including KRW 8.5bn (USD 6.4m) in government funding
• Seven organisations are involved: two end-user companies, three AI specialist firms and two research institutes
• The project targets incinerator steam optimisation, lower steam use in paper drying, predictive maintenance and an AI safety-management model
• The stated goal is an autonomous plant where AI recommends operating conditions, putting data behind decisions that relied on veteran operators' experience
• Hansol Paper plans to turn the results into a standard model for smaller suppliers and similar manufacturing sectors

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