From CentOS to Kylin: Angang Steel Completes Secure Upgrade of Industrial OS, Boosting Computing Performance by 40%

In a landmark deal that signals a significant leap in China’s drive for technological self-reliance, China Electronics Corporation (CEC) and Ansteel Group, one of the nation’s largest steelmakers, have solidified a strategic partnership. The agreement, inked in Shenzhen on May 21st, leverages years of collaboration in the realm of information technology to accelerate the implementation of key strategic projects. This partnership is poised to inject fresh impetus into Ansteel’s digital transformation, powered by indigenous IT innovations, and to pave the way for a new era of industrial modernization and the development of advanced productive forces.

As a pioneer in adopting comprehensive IT solutions, Ansteel, often referred to as the “eldest son of the Republic’s steel industry,” has been at the forefront of integrating information technology across its entire operational chain. However, the company faced the dual challenge of maintaining the real-time performance of its “ten-thousand-ton” production systems while simultaneously orchestrating a deep integration of industrial control systems with its enterprise management platforms.

The existing reliance on legacy operating systems like CentOS presented significant hurdles, including compatibility constraints, persistent security vulnerabilities, and the eventual discontinuation of service. These issues proved insufficient to handle the demands of high-speed data processing essential for modern steel manufacturing, while also contributing to data silos that hindered further intelligent upgrades. Ansteel’s proactive approach has led to a strategic partnership with key software companies to embrace a fully indigenous, end-to-end digital infrastructure.

At the core of this transformation is a robust computing base, built upon the advanced GalaxyKirin server operating system. The OS, meticulously optimized for diverse industrial scenarios, has achieved EAL4+ certification from the National Information Security Evaluation Center, and incorporates kernel-level security enhancements to safeguard crucial data. Moreover, through collaborative optimization with the Phytium CPU, the system promises a 40% boost in computing performance compared to traditional architectures, which is essential to meet the real-time inference demands of AI-powered quality inspection models.

GalaxyKirin V10 already underpins 13 core business systems at Ansteel, encompassing critical operations such as ERP, MES, and SCADA. These systems encompass production management and data collection, and are now seamlessly integrated with Ansteel’s industrial internet platform, resulting in a fully unified IT ecosystem.

As the backbone of the national economy, the manufacturing sector is in the deep end of IT. This collaborative model, effectively connecting key links across the supply chain from chips and operating systems to industrial software, is poised to create a closed-loop ecosystem that will act as a blueprint for other manufacturing companies looking to upgrade their digital infrastructure. As Ansteel continues to build its smart factories, the industry is watching to see how other manufacturers can adopt this model, forging their own paths through tech independence and advancing the digital foundation of new industrialization in China.