Stepping Toward Streamlined Coke Production: Megafon and MMK Partner to Craft Digital Coal Stockyard
MegaFon and MMK to establish a digital storage facility for coal-chemical manufacturing operations
Thanks to a pioneering move, telecom giant Megafon and steel titan Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) team up, pushing boundaries with the creation of a digital coal stockyard at SPIEF-2025. Their mission? To optimize coke production by cutting down on coal consumption, all thanks to modern tech wizardry.
In the heart of the agreement, Megafon's CEO, Haçatur Pombukhchan, and MMK's CEO, Pavel Shilyayev, put ink to paper. Now, the digital simulation of stockyard processes set to revolutionize the steel industry, giving MMK employees real-time control over coal concentrates' availability and movement, with the capacity to tweak their structure, and efficiently plan unloadings.
Haçatur Pombukhchan shared his enthusiasm, remarking, "In these testing times, going digital within production is the key to enterprise efficiency. Our projects with MMK prove this. From constructing a private corporate network to creating an iron ore stockyard's digital twin, to automating metal product testing and certification, these accomplishments have garnered positive feedback in production. The digital coal stockyard project will take production optimization to the next level."
First up? The deployment of a system to regulate incoming raw materials and seamless integration with existing solutions. Early 2026, the digital coal stockyard will bid adieu to the test phase and officially commence industrial operations.
"MMK is all about chasing advancement in digital solutions to heighten production efficiency. The successful journey of automating iron ore transportation and storage in the agglomeration charge preparation shop serves as a stepping stone for scale-ups to other departments," highlighted Pavel Shilyayev, MMK's CEO. "Digital management of technological processes, diminishing human errors, and enhancing product quality are non-negotiables for MMK, and technology provides viable answers to these challenges."
Not content with just digitizing coke chemical production, Megafon plans to extend the reach of its Private LTE network, designed for optimal data transmission and resource efficiency. This IoT-powered network is set to blanket the main industrial site, remote locations like aglomeration plant No5, and limestone-dolomite production areas.
Here's a lowdown on what this tech-driven symbiosis aims to accomplish:
Primary Goals
- Precision Inventory Management: Streamlining the management of coal stocks, allowing for better blending and the production of higher-quality coke.
- Predictive Maintenance: Alerting MMK to potential equipment malfunctions, reducing downtime and smoothing the coke production process.
- Informed Decision-Making: Offering MMK deep data-driven insights into coal usage, production rates, and quality control, empowering decision-makers to fine-tune strategies.
- Automation and Efficiency: Automating processes and leveraging AI to minimize human errors, speed up decision-making, and boost productivity.
- Integrated Supply Chain: Linking the digital stockyard with supply chain management systems, facilitating efficient coordination with suppliers and optimizing coal deliveries.
Technological Arsenal
- IoT Sensors: Providing real-time intel on coal qualities and stock levels.
- AI and Machine Learning: For crunching data, predicting trends in coal supply and demand.
- Cloud Computing: Ensuring seamless storage and processing of voluminous data.
- High-Speed 5G Network: Offered by Megafon, delivering the lightning-fast connectivity required for real-time data transmission and analysis.
Advantages
- Superior Coke Quality: Meeting exacting standards through accurate mixes of coal types.
- Reduced Operational Costs: By making the most of resources and reducing waste.
- Heightened Competitiveness: By flexing its technological muscles in the global steel market.
In a nutshell, this digital power couple seeks to harness technology to ramp up operational efficiency, elevate product quality, and slash costs, paving the path to MMK's sustainable growth and competitive edge.
The digital simulated stockyard, a collaboration between Megafon and MMK, aims to streamline inventory management in the energy sector (industry), providing real-time control over coal concentrate availability and movement. This precise management will enable better blending for the production of higher-quality coke, contributing to the optimization of business operations.
In the financial aspect, the digital stockyard project is expected to reduce operational costs by making the most of resources, thereby increasing profitability and boosting MMK's competitiveness in the global market. By leveraging technologies such as IoT sensors, AI, machine learning, cloud computing, and 5G network, the partnership seeks to achieve these goals and solidify MMK's position in the finance and energy industries.
