LG Electronics is positioning itself as a global leader in manufacturing innovation by leveraging its robotics and smart factory technologies. Building on its extensive mass production experience in the home appliance sector, the company is rapidly growing its smart factory business both domestically and internationally, aiming to establish it as a key growth driver.
According to Robotics & Automation News on the 17th, Song Si-yong, Executive Vice President and Head of LG Electronics’ Smart Factory Business Division, said in a recent interview, “We are currently undertaking turnkey smart factory projects in the United States and Southeast Asia. This year, our order target is $300 million, and we expect it to grow to over $750 million by 2030.”
Since officially launching its smart factory solutions business early last year, LG has quickly gained traction with external clients. In 2023, orders from outside LG Group affiliates were estimated at around $150 million, and this year’s goal is more than double that amount. This aggressive target reflects growing market demand and LG’s confidence in its technological capabilities.
LG’s strategy goes beyond supplying automated equipment. The company emphasizes comprehensive, customized total solutions—offering services ranging from factory design and process audits to ROI analysis and phased implementation plans. The focus is on building strategic partnerships tailored to each customer’s needs.
On the hardware side, LG provides advanced technologies such as robot-based assembly automation, AI-powered quality inspection, and intelligent logistics systems. On the software side, LG offers a platform that integrates equipment data collection and centralized management, linking production, orders, and logistics. These technologies are rapidly optimized to client requirements through LG’s in-house R&D capabilities.
In the U.S., LG recently delivered a logistics automation solution to an automotive parts supplier in Savannah, Georgia. The company is also working with major automakers to supply Manufacturing Control Systems (MCS) that optimize part sequencing in mixed-model production lines. Consulting services are also underway for new assembly and machining plants across the U.S.
“LG aims to go beyond simply providing machines—we’re focused on delivering customer-centric strategic partnerships,” Song emphasized. “We support every step of the process, from initial factory design and process diagnostics to ROI evaluation and implementation roadmaps.”
LG’s global smart factory export strategy stems from its own advanced manufacturing capabilities. A prime example is the company’s plant in Clarksville, Tennessee, which was selected by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a “Lighthouse Factory.” Incorporating AI, IoT, and digital twin technologies, the plant boasts a 60% automation rate—higher than LG’s Changwon factory in Korea, which has a 45% rate.
At the Clarksville facility, over 200 autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) transport parts in real time using a CBRS-based private 5G network. An AI vision system detects assembly defects on the spot, while digital twin simulations help optimize production planning. The plant also uses approximately 20,000 QR codes and LiDAR sensors to guide automated guided vehicles (AGVs), which can autonomously replace their own batteries. Robots are deployed for hazardous tasks, enhancing both safety and productivity. LG plans to further improve flexibility and efficiency by introducing additional AMRs.
Leveraging this in-house expertise, LG integrates over 1,000 related patents into its smart factory solutions, delivering high-value services such as defect prediction and equipment diagnostics. The company is also expanding into new industries—including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage—by highlighting its strengths in customized automation and quality control technologies.
