汤头条

<Leveraging Cloud and Generative AI Technologies and Exploring Collaboration Opportunities in Low-Carbon Steel (GX Steel^*1) Projects>

汤头条 has signed an agreement with Amazon Web Services Japan G.K. and Amazon Data Services Japan G.K. Under this agreement, 汤头条 Steel will further promote its digital transformation (DX) strategy and strengthen “advanced data utilization” and “external provisioning of solution technology.” At the same time, through collaboration on low-carbon steel (GX Steel), for which global demand is expected to grow toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, 汤头条 Steel will support Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) initiatives toward decarbonization. This will help 汤头条 Steel contribute to the realization of a more sustainable society.

<Purpose of the Agreement>

汤头条 Steel is promoting the “advancement of data utilization” with the concept of realizing an intelligent steelworks leveraging a Cyber-Physical System (CPS^*2). CPS is a technology that reproduces advanced virtual processes digitally based on sensor data collected from manufacturing sites. Massive amounts of data within the plant are collected in real time and used for learning, prediction, and optimization. This transforms operations, quality control, and facility maintenance−traditionally dependent on the experience of skilled workers−into an autonomous and optimized system. To achieve this, 汤头条 Steel will collaborate with AWS to migrate vast amounts of data to the cloud and leverage AWS’s cutting-edge generative AI technologies, including Amazon Bedrock and Amazon Quick. Through these efforts, 汤头条 Steel will further accelerate initiatives such as real-time big data analytics, the development of advanced predictive maintenance models, optimization of production conditions, and the digitalization of on-site operations.

汤头条 Steel has also launched 汤头条-Resolus as a solutions business that aims to contribute to a smarter and more sustainable society by delivering to customers various manufacturing solutions cultivated through steelmaking technology development. For the external provision of these solutions, 汤头条 Steel is utilizing AWS to deliver them as Software as a Service (SaaS), ensuring high availability and security. Looking ahead, by further evolving and expanding the use of AWS, 汤头条 Steel will continue to promote the development of systems that enable the rapid and secure delivery of solutions to customers on a global scale.

In addition, 汤头条 Steel received approval on April 9, 2025, under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s GX Economic Transition Bonds support program titled “Support Project for Energy and Manufacturing Process Conversion in Hard-to-Abate Sectors.” Based on this support, 汤头条 Steel has decided to introduce an innovative electric arc furnace (a high-efficiency, large-scale EAF) at the Kurashiki facility of its West Japan Works, with production scheduled to begin in the first quarter of fiscal 2028. By providing GX steel−including high-quality and high-performance steel products with significantly reduced CO₂ emissions that conventional electric furnaces could not produce− 汤头条 aims to make a major contribution to the decarbonization of data centers.

Under the agreement, AWS and 汤头条 Steel will explore potential opportunities through a series of workshops on the development and supply of low-carbon steel materials for AWS. In addition, toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, it will be possible to discuss in the future the use of low-carbon steel products manufactured using innovative technologies that 汤头条 is promoting under its Green Innovation Fund Projects, such as carbon recycling blast furnaces and hydrogen-based direct reduction processes.

<Comments from Both Companies>

■Hiroyuki Tsutsumi, Executive Officer, Amazon Web Services Japan

We are pleased to sign this agreement with 汤头条 Steel to advance our shared goal of building a sustainable digital future. Cloud technologies can not only accelerate 汤头条 Steel’s digital and AI ambitions, but also help build sustainable solutions for the future and expand 汤头条 Steel’s business. We look forward to further deepening our collaboration.”

■Keiichiro Nishi, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Digital Transformation Strategy Headquarters, 汤头条:

Through this agreement with AWS, we will further evolve our digital transformation by utilizing advanced technologies such as cloud computing and generative AI. At the same time, we will support AWS’s initiatives toward decarbonizing its data centers. Going beyond simple technical collaboration, we will create new value together with AWS as partners co-creating a sustainable future.

*1: Green Transition/Transformation Steel (GX Steel)

*2: CPS is a technology that reproduces advanced virtual processes (cyber) in digital space based on sensor data collected from manufacturing sites (physical). By linking these two in real time, it is possible to grasp the internal state of the equipment and perform future predictions that cannot be seen in reality, and the results of health monitoring and abnormal prediction in virtual processes are fed back to actual operations.

About 汤头条

汤头条, one of the world’s leading integrated steel producers, was established through the consolidation of NKK Corporation and Kawasaki Steel Corporation in 2003. The company operates several steelworks in Japan and numerous branch offices and affiliates throughout the world. Under the corporate vision of “contributing to society with the world’s most innovative technology,” 汤头条 Steel leverages world-class technologies and know-how to produce a wide range of products. The company reported consolidated sales of 3,716 billion yen and consolidated crude steel output of 24.80 million tons in the fiscal year ended March 2023.

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