Convergence with High-Tech
Industries Task for Developing
Machinery Industry

5th Machinery Day Anniversary events are held to promote the industry

The domestic machinery industry needs to transform itself by consolidating or combining newly emerging technologies as IT, bio-technology and nano-technology, a ranking government official says.
Vice Minister for Commerce and Industry Kim Jong-kap said in his congratulatory speech to a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of 2006 Machinery Day, held at Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials on October 24th, "Now is the time when the machinery industry needs to move toward its convergence of such new technologies as IT, bio-technology and nano-technology in order to transform itself into an advanced one."Vice Minister Kim stressed such government support as the one for building up a foundation for design technology, reliability and certification as part of its efforts to make up for weak points of the machinery industry, saying that "working at clean rooms is the future feature of the machinery industry, staying away from the days of machines with metal scraps and oil stains."The government presented awards to three people who contributed to the development of the machinery industry during the Machinery Day anniversary. Lee Sang-gill, president of Rotem Technology Research Institute, was praised for presenting a constructive model of promoting collaboration among industry, academic and research circles for the G-7 Korean-type high-speed train Project, dubbed the G-7. Choi Do-hyung, a professor at KAIST Machinery Engineering Department, was praised for opening field-specific educational course, offering technology consulting and sharing educational programs while serving as the chairman of SHI-KAIST Industry-Academy Consultative Committee, a consortium of KAIST and Samsung Heavy Industries during the period between 1995 and present. Lee Seok-woo, head of Korea Institute of Industrial Technology e-Fabricating Process Team, was awarded for having made remarked achievements in the super precision fabrication, special fabrication, precision machinery design and essential technologies. He was praised for conducting manufacturing innovations in terms of quality, cost and delivery under an e-Manufacturing infrastructure buildup project.
About excellent students and teachers from engineering high school and colleges were invited to an observation tours to such research institutes as Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, designed to promote the understanding of the machinery industry as well as science and technology.
Machinery-related experts from industry, academic and research circles got together to discuss ways of promoting innovations for the development of the machinery industry and government policies.
Participants suggested strategies designed to localize and sophisticated production equipment and build up a production foundation for reliability and design.
They discussed ways for conducting i-Manufacturing projects designed to spearhead innovations in informatiztion, manufacturing system and new product development through combination of manufacturing and IT industries.
The experts also discussed ways of making the machinery industry a new export growth engine by focusing on strengthening the industry's exporting capability and providing support for satisfying demands for exploring overseas markets and developing Korea's representative premium brands.
Lee Tae-yong, director-general of Main Manufacturing Industry Office from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, said during a panel discussion session, said the government will continue to strengthen steps to prop up the machinery export industry while focusing on R&D investments into convergence of advanced technologies and localization of major production equipment. nw

Speakers and panelists, including Vice Minister for Commerce and Industry Kim Jong-kap, pose for the camera prior to a symposium marking the anniversary of Machinery Day.