Unmanned Grab Crane Powers Intelligent Steelmaking at Baowu Shaogang

Supporting “One-Click Steelmaking” with Smart, High-Precision Crane Systems

Project Overview

As part of China's push for intelligent manufacturing and green transformation, Henan Mine delivered two fully unmanned grab cranes to the 25,000-ton rotary hearth furnace project at Baowu Group’s Shaogang Steel Plant. These cranes were specially developed to align with Shaogang’s “One-Click Steelmaking” strategy, representing a major step toward end-to-end intelligent automation in metallurgical operations.

Key Technical Highlights

Sub-5mm Precision Positioning

Equipped with advanced 3D scanning and smart tracking systems, the cranes offer:

• Automatic obstacle avoidance

• Target recognition

• Self-correcting grab alignment

• Repetitive motion precision within 5mm
  This level of accuracy ensures highly stable and efficient material handling in critical production processes.

Remote Operation – 1000 Meters Away

Operators can control the crane from an office over 1 km away, significantly reducing exposure to high-temperature, dusty environments.

• Enhances worker safety

• Reduces on-site staffing requirements

• Improves monitoring and data access

High-Level Unmanned Automation

The system enables:

• 24/7 unmanned crane operations

• Real-time remote diagnostics

• Predictive maintenance alerts

• Seamless database integration for process automation

This project has drawn significant industry attention and has set a benchmark for unmanned crane systems in steelmaking. The project also involved the co-development of new national inspection standards for unmanned overhead cranes, in collaboration with a leading national crane research institute.

Strategic Impact

• Helped Shaogang move closer to fully automated steel production

• Reduced labor intensity and improved operational safety

• Attracted widespread interest and benchmarking visits from across the metallurgical sector

• Elevated Henan Mine’s position as a core long-term supplier to Baowu Group, following its selection as an “Excellent Supplier” for Baosteel Zhanjiang and multiple framework contracts with Shaogang

What the Industry Is Saying

“This unmanned crane represents a new standard for intelligent material handling in high-load, harsh industrial environments. It is smooth, smart, and accurate—exactly what modern steelmaking demands.”

Looking to Upgrade to Unmanned, Smart Handling Systems?

Henan Mine delivers fully customized, intelligent crane solutions for steel plants, foundries, and industrial automation projects—built for remote control, zero downtime, and millimeter-level accuracy.