Research sites face a wide range of critical tasks, such as developing new materials. At the same time, they also handle repetitive day-to-day work. As workloads increase, concerns about safety continue to grow, alongside the need to further improve research efficiency. To address these challenges, LG Chem has established a new experimental environment by integrating automation technologies. Today, we introduce LG Chem’s Automation Lab.

Navigating an Uncertain Future: Strengthening Our R&D Competitiveness

In recent years, the importance of technological competitiveness has continued to grow. In particular, demand for analytical work—the foundation of new materials development—has been rising rapidly as strategic R&D initiatives expand. This has increased the need for a more precise and efficient analytical environment.

As demand for analytical work increased, traditional manual-centered processes became insufficient to handle the growing volume of samples requested each day. Researchers spent a significant amount of time on repetitive tasks, such as weighing samples, loading them into equipment, and manually recording results. As a result, it became difficult for them to fully focus on core research activities, including interpreting analytical data and developing new analytical methods. In addition, some processes involved high-risk conditions, such as high-temperature treatments exceeding 1,000°C and high-concentration acid handling, raising concerns about safety and fatigue over time.

To address these challenges, LG Chem’s Analytical Research Center launched an Automation Lab, aiming to achieve a qualitative transformation of the research environment. By introducing automated systems, the lab seeks to reduce repetitive tasks and establish a more stable and efficient analytical framework, enabling researchers to focus on strategic, high-value research activities. The automation lab represents more than the introduction of new equipment; it serves as a critical foundation for standardizing analytical processes and driving changes in the way R&D operations are conducted.

The Secret to Accelerating R&D Tenfold: The Integration of Innovative Technologies

The Automation Lab goes beyond equipment automation by establishing a standardized, experiment-planning-based analysis system, improving R&D productivity and data reliability. The most significant change is time efficiency. Under the previous manual approach, sample weighing and equipment loading alone took three to four hours, requiring analysts to remain in the laboratory throughout the process. In the Automation Lab, these steps are automated, reducing direct analyst involvement to approximately 20 minutes. While the analysis time itself remains unchanged, the time analysts spend on repetitive tasks has been significantly reduced. This structure shortens the overall analysis lead time. As robots perform the analysis, analysts can focus on data interpretation and report preparation, naturally reducing the time from request to result delivery. As a result, the turnaround time for cathode material sample analysis has been accelerated, positively impacting the overall development schedule.

This innovation is enabled by an AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot)–based transport system, particularly MoMa (Mobile Manipulators) equipped with robotic arms. Using LiDAR and camera sensors, the AMR autonomously navigates its routes, retrieves sample trays, and delivers them directly to analytical equipment. As a result, researchers are relieved of repetitive sample-handling tasks and can focus on core analysis and research activities. In addition, the system is designed with a modular structure rather than a fixed conveyor, allowing flexible adaptation to equipment additions or layout changes.

Data generated in the Automation Lab is integrated with ALIMS (Analytical Information Management System) and stored in real time. Previously, results were recorded manually or managed as separate files, creating the risk of omissions and errors. In the Automation Lab, however, the entire process—from sample registration and result storage to history tracking—is connected in a single, continuous workflow. Analysis conditions, result values, and experiment times are automatically recorded, improving data traceability and reliability while establishing a foundation for future AI-based data analysis. In addition, key notifications such as experiment start, completion, and error events are delivered in real time via KakaoTalk, allowing analysts to monitor progress without remaining in the laboratory. Real-time monitoring dashboards further enable instant visibility into analysis status, significantly improving operational efficiency.

Synergy Between On-Site Operations and Development
in Overcoming Technical Challenges

Building the Automation Lab required extensive technical coordination. The primary challenge was reliably integrating analytical instruments from different manufacturers—each with its own operating methods and communication protocols—into a single, unified automation workflow. Because the project did not involve deploying a ready-made solution, site-specific design and repeated adjustments were essential. In the early stages, unexpected errors, interface conflicts, and operational interruptions occurred frequently. To address these issues, the team carried out continuous testing along with iterative software and hardware modifications. Through this repeated process, the system gradually reached a stable and reliable operating state.

The project reached its current level thanks to the collaboration of team members who actively shared ideas and participated in problem solving on site. Many visited the Daejeon site multiple times and worked late into the night to resolve issues and improve the automation equipment. This site-driven collaboration led to improvements in accuracy and safety. Ultimately, the foundation of the Automation Lab was built not only on technology, but also on the active engagement and teamwork of its members.

From Automation to an Intelligent Convergence Lab

Building on its current operational performance, LG Chem’s Automation Lab is preparing for the next stage. The lab aims to establish a year-round, uninterrupted operating system, enabling analysts to focus on their work more reliably and efficiently, while also laying the groundwork for expanding the Automation Lab model.

Building on its experience at the Daejeon Research Center, LG Chem plans to establish an Automation Lab at the MaGok Research Center next year. The AMR-based modular structure allows easy equipment expansion and layout changes, drawing interest from other laboratories. In fact, inquiries and visit requests have been received from multiple headquarters and manufacturing sites. This model offers strong scalability and can be readily applied across diverse analytical environments.

LG Chem aims to evolve beyond automation into an intelligent convergence lab capable of AI-based data interpretation. Through this advancement, the company will continue to expand an environment where researchers are freed from repetitive tasks and can focus on core research and product development. The Automation Lab provides a foundation for improving research efficiency and safety, and based on this experience, LG Chem will continue to build a better research environment and steadily strengthen its R&D competitiveness.