Manufacturer Emsteel lauded the launch of a pilot private 5G network at its facilities, the result of a partnership with mobile operator e&, with the first supported application an app used for maintenance.

The UAE-based steel and building materials manufacturer described the move as a “significant step” toward its Industry 4.0 ambitions.

Its first application to use the pilot network is the Asset Insight app. It provides the means for workers to scan QR codes on equipment using industrial-grade tablets to access real-time documentation, maintenance history and sensor data.

The app can then be used to log any maintenance requests in an attempt to “minimise downtime and costly repairs while boosting maintenance efficiency and safety”.

In a statement, the manufacturer noted the network worked across its “extensive and complex industrial environments, overcoming the limitations of traditional connectivity solutions”.

The company added keeping data secure within its on-premises infrastructure “enables the secure integration of high-tech projects”.

Emsteel CEO Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi said the network was “more than a technological upgrade; it is a fundamental shift in how we operate, innovate, and ensure the safety of our people and assets”.

“This pilot launch reinforces our commitment to pioneering sustainable and efficient manufacturing practices, setting a new benchmark for the industrial sector both regionally and globally.”

In a LinkedIn post, the executive added it would empower smart factories, predictive maintenance and real-time decision making.

The two unveiled plans for the private 5G move in October last year, promoting it at the time as the first of its kind in the manufacturing sector. Initially e& noted the kit would cut the industrial player’s operational costs, up productivity and support health and safety applications.