This case study examines the unmanned cyclone well slag handling system deployed at LIUZHOU IRON & STEEL CO., LTD. The project retrofitted a manually operated grab crane with Wuhan Forward's proprietary technologies including Gray code positioning, anti‑sway control, laser radar 3D scanning, mobile operation terminals, 3D management and dispatch software, and intelligent scheduling algorithms. The system enables fully automatic operation from slag grabbing to truck loading, eliminating operator exposure to hazardous conditions and delivering measurable improvements: grab cycle time reduced by 15–20%,empty‑grab rate cut from over 10% to below 1%, collision incidents eliminated, and wire rope service life extended by approximately 30%. The solution demonstrates how integrated industrial crane automation can reliably address safety, efficiency, and operational transparency challenges in steel mill environments.
FORWARD Gray Code Bus: electromagnetic induction on coded cable – non‑contact, no drift, instant absolute position. Beats encoders (slippage) and lasers (dust‑sensitive, costly). ±1mm, immune to dust/heat/vibration, multi‑crane sharing, zero maintenance. 10+ year life, lowest annual cost. Direct ProfiNET, open architecture. For automated cranes in harsh environments.
This case study presents an unmanned overhead crane solution for steel coil warehouses, developed through a retrofit project at a major steel producer's finished coil facility. The system integrates high-precision 3D positioning, active anti-sway control, LiDAR scanning, intelligent lifting attachments, and digital twin scheduling—all orchestrated by a centralized warehouse management system to enable fully automated inbound, stacking, restacking, and outbound operations. Post-implementation results include cycle times under 4 minutes per coil, 99.99% operational accuracy, workforce reduction exceeding 60%, and zero safety incidents. The solution is versatile and replicable, offering a proven reference for logistics automation in the steel industry.
