SeAH Besteel Localizes Special Steel for Robot Reducers... Reducing Dependence on Japan

Ultra-Clean Steelmaking and Heat Deformation Control Technology Boosts Precision and Fatigue Life
Supplies Begin to SPG, Expansion Planned for Humanoid Robot Materials

SeAH Besteel has begun mass production of special steel materials for robot reducers, a segment that had previously relied heavily on overseas companies, including those in Japan. The company now plans to expand its product lineup to special steel for humanoid robots, targeting the rapidly growing robot materials market.

Special steel materials for robot gear reducers are being stored. SeAH Besteel

SeAH Besteel announced on October 6 that it has successfully developed and commercialized special steel materials for robot reducers, a core component in robot operation.

The reducer, which functions as a robot’s joint, controls the high-speed rotation of the motor, enabling the robot’s arms and legs to move with the desired speed and power. The smaller the backlash—the gap where reducer gears mesh—the more precise the robot’s movements can be.

The special steel material developed by SeAH Besteel is applied to the “flex spline,” a key component that transmits the motor’s power within the reducer. Through proprietary alloy design, the company has reduced subtle shape deformation that may occur during heat treatment. The company explained that with this, it has improved both workability and dimensional precision, while minimizing deformation even under various temperature changes and shocks.

Given the need for reducers to endure repetitive movements, SeAH Besteel also enhanced the fatigue life of the material. Using an immersion circulation-type vacuum refining facility, which removes minute impurities in a vacuum environment, the company achieved ultra-clean steel by minimizing non-metallic inclusions that can cause microcracks.

The company has already moved into commercialization. In February, SeAH Besteel began supplying industrial robot reducer materials to the domestic precision reducer maker SPG, and has now entered full-scale mass production.

Based on the mass production of this special steel for flex splines, SeAH Besteel plans to develop additional special steel grades applicable to humanoid robots.

A SeAH Besteel official commented, “This is a meaningful achievement, as we have successfully begun mass production using purely domestic technology in a robot reducer special steel materials market that was previously dependent on a handful of overseas companies, including those in Japan. By leading the localization of high-quality special steel materials, we aim to strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic robot industry.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.