February 2, 2026，Today, the “Hebei Province Steel Industry Vertical Large Model Application Service Platform Launch and ‘AI + Steel’ Matchmaking Event,” guided by the Hebei Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology and jointly organized by the Handan Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology and HBIS Group, was successfully held in Handan. This event marks a critical step for Hebei Province in promoting the deep integration of traditional steel industry with artificial intelligence and accelerating intelligent transformation. Attendees included Li Yiren, Vice President of the China Iron and Steel Association; Song Xiangdang, Deputy Director-General-level leader of the Hebei Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology; and Su Yanhua, Vice Mayor of Handan City. Nearly 300 representatives from industry associations, universities, research institutes, steel enterprises, and large model technology companies gathered to discuss the digital and intelligent development of the steel industry.
I. Platform Launch: Building a Collaborative Ecosystem of “Government, Industry, Academia, Research, and Application”
The official launch of the Hebei Province Steel Industry Vertical Large Model Application Service Platform is a significant initiative to implement the national “14th Five-Year Plan” for Digital Economy Development and Hebei Province’s “Intelligent Transformation of Manufacturing” strategy. The platform is led by HBIS Digital Technology Co., Ltd., in collaboration with over 20 entities, including China Mobile Hebei Branch, Metallurgical Industry Information Center, Yan Zhao Steel Laboratory, Alibaba Cloud, and Baidu Intelligent Cloud. It aims to integrate industry resources and promote innovative applications of large AI models across the entire steel production process and upstream and downstream industry clusters.
The platform’s core functions cover four key areas: technology research and development, supply-demand matchmaking, case promotion, and standard formulation. By fostering an open and shared technological ecosystem, the platform will provide customized large model solutions for steel enterprises, covering areas such as production optimization, quality control, equipment maintenance, and supply chain management. During the launch ceremony, Yu Tao, Senior Engineer at HBIS Digital, detailed the platform’s technical architecture and service system, emphasizing its advantages of “precise adaptation, cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and replicability.”
II. Industry Leaders Discuss: AI-Driven High-Quality Development of the Steel Industry
At the event, multiple industry experts engaged in in-depth discussions on “AI Empowering High-Quality Development of the Steel Industry.” In his keynote speech, Li Yiren, Vice President of the China Iron and Steel Association, noted, “Currently, the global steel industry is at a critical juncture of green and intelligent transformation. AI technology not only enhances production efficiency but also optimizes resource allocation through data analysis, driving the industry toward higher-end and service-oriented development.” He urged steel enterprises to seize opportunities, accelerate digital transformation, and build a data-centric new production model.
Li Yutao, Technology Director of HBIS Digital, shared the practical achievements of the “HBIS Digital Weisai Steel Large Model 2.0.” This platform uses deep learning algorithms to achieve intelligent optimization of steelmaking process parameters and predictive maintenance of equipment failures. “In its application at Tangsteel’s steelmaking plant, the large model reduced the steelmaking cycle by 15%, lowered alloy consumption by 8%, and generated annual economic benefits exceeding 100 million yuan,” Li Yutao stated. He added that the platform’s application scenarios would be further expanded to include rolling and quality inspection processes.
Jin Dongxing, Digitalization Expert at Yongyang Special Steel, demonstrated how large models enable automation and refinement of production processes through the “Smart Steelmaking · One-Click Precision Control” case. He explained that leveraging the real-time data analysis capabilities of large models, the company achieved precise control of molten steel composition, increased product qualification rates to 99.8%, and reduced scrap steel losses by thousands of tons annually.
III. Ecosystem Collaboration: Signing Agreements with 7 Top Partners, Deep Integration with 6 Major Clusters
A grand signing ceremony for platform ecosystem collaboration and industrial applications was held during the event. Platform representatives signed cooperation agreements with seven ecosystem partners, including the Metallurgical Industry Information Center, Yan Zhao Steel Laboratory, Alibaba Cloud Computing, Baidu Intelligent Cloud, Kingdee Software, Xinrun (Hebei) Technology, and Jingu Wulian Technology. These agreements cover areas such as technology research and development, computing power support, and industry solution development, injecting strong technological momentum into the platform.
At the industrial application level, the platform established strategic partnerships with six characteristic industrial clusters, including Yongnian Fasteners, Chengan Metal Pipes and Equipment, Anping Wire Mesh, Linxi Bearings, Tangshan Robotics, and Weixian Special Vehicle Components. These clusters will leverage large model technology to drive intelligent upgrades in product design, production scheduling, quality inspection, and other processes. Additionally, the platform signed agreements with six other entities, including the Hebei Provincial Metallurgical Industry Association, Xinjin Steel, Jinan Steel, Puyang Steel, Yongyang Special Steel, and Jinding Steel, to establish a two-way interactive mechanism of “demand-driven and technology-empowered” collaboration.
During the event, the Hebei Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology released the “2025 Directory of Outstanding Technology Suppliers for Digital Transformation in Hebei’s Steel Industry” and the “2025 Directory of Digital and Intelligent Innovation Achievements in Hebei’s Steel Industry.” The former includes over 30 high-quality enterprises, such as smart manufacturing system integrators and industrial internet platform service providers, while the latter compiles over 50 innovation achievements in areas like smart equipment, industrial software, and data governance, providing authoritative references for steel enterprises’ digital transformation.
IV. Enterprise Practices: A “Two-Way Interaction” of Demand Release and Technology Empowerment
At the event, Hebei Xinjin Steel and Jinding Steel Group took the lead in releasing their large AI model application needs, covering scenarios such as production planning optimization, energy management, and supply chain collaboration. Multiple large model service providers responded actively, offering tailored technical solutions on-site. For example, in response to Xinjin Steel’s demand for “intelligent regulation of blast furnace gas,” Alibaba Cloud’s team proposed a dynamic prediction solution based on time-series large models. Kingdee Software showcased a digital twin-based simulation tool to address Jinding Steel’s supply chain optimization challenges.
This model of “proactive demand-side expression and precise supply-side response” is one of the core objectives of the platform. By building an open demand pool and technology repository, the platform aims to break down information barriers between enterprises and technology service providers, accelerating the large-scale application of AI technology in the steel industry chain.
V. Future Outlook: Fostering New Quality Productive Forces and Leading Industry Transformation
A representative from the Hebei Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology stated that the platform would be implemented in phases: in the short term, focusing on building benchmark scenarios for key enterprises; in the medium term, expanding to collaborative innovation within industrial clusters; and in the long term, aiming to establish an intelligent service system covering the entire industry. It is expected that by 2028, the platform will help improve production efficiency in Hebei’s steel industry by 15%–20%, reduce energy consumption by over 10%, and promote the industry’s advancement toward higher-end, intelligent, and green development.
In a video address, Wang Guodong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, emphasized, “The steel industry is a crucial pillar of the national economy and a main battlefield for digital transformation. Hebei’s initiative not only provides an innovation engine for local enterprises but also sets a benchmark for the national steel industry. We look forward to fostering more competitive new quality productive forces through the deep integration of ‘AI + Steel.'”
Reprinted from Steel.com
