Vertical: Manufacturing
Application: Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR), material handling, factory automation, SCADA monitoring
Ecosystem: AIS, Lertvilai and Sons, Mitsubishi Electric, Quadra Technology
Private Network: 5G
Thailand’s largest mobile operator AIS has successfully implemented a commercial private 5G network deployment at Yawata Electrode (Thailand) Co., Ltd.’s manufacturing facility in Nakhon Ratchasima province. The deployment demonstrates the practical application of 5G technology in industrial settings, specifically enabling autonomous mobile robots to operate seamlessly within a complex manufacturing environment.
The implementation represents a collaborative effort between AIS, the Thai Automation and Robotics Association (TARA), automation specialist Lertvilai and Sons, and welding electrode manufacturer Yawata Electrode. The partnership aims to advance Thailand’s Industry 4.0 initiatives while enhancing competitiveness in the global manufacturing sector.
Yawata Electrode operates as one of Thailand’s largest welding electrode manufacturers with an annual production capacity of 180,000 tons, serving 25 countries including major infrastructure projects like Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The company employs 290 workers and has been pursuing digital transformation to improve efficiency and safety.
The 5G private network enables Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) to navigate freely throughout the 25,000-square-meter production facility without requiring physical guidelines. These robots, capable of handling up to 500 kilograms, automatically transport raw materials, work-in-process items, and finished goods between production areas, replacing traditional manually operated forklifts.
Dr. Kunlachat Seniwong na Ayutthaya, R&D Manager of Robotics and Automation at Lertvilai and Sons explained: “However, one of the requirements is to have wireless connection that is stable, low latency, able to have full coverage inside the factory and high security of data transmission. AIS 5G Private Network meets all of the above requirements.”
The private network operates at 2.6 GHz frequency and delivers connection speeds approaching 1 Gbps. Network slicing capabilities allow AIS to allocate dedicated resources for specific applications, ensuring consistent performance for critical industrial processes while maintaining data privacy and security.
Tanapong Ittisakulchai, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at AIS 5G Business, outlined the approach: “The 5G Private Network platform is a private network service for specialist use in factories with capabilities of Network Slicing to allocate resources. This gives the network the properties to support the specific needs of applications such as speed and low latency.”
The technical architecture integrates SCADA monitoring systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Mitsubishi Electric provided GENESIS64 SCADA software and MELSEC iQ-R series PLCs, while Quadra Technology contributed Q-ERP system integration, enabling comprehensive data management across production, procurement, and accounting functions.
The deployment connects Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) systems through hybrid cloud architecture, facilitating real-time monitoring of production processes, quality control parameters, and resource utilization from centralized control interfaces.
