Genon, a South Korean generative AI solutions startup, recently announced on Wednesday that its Indonesian AI manufacturing automation business passed mass-production validation and won follow-on contracts, accelerating its overseas expansion.
Last year, Genon developed Vision AI inspection technology for Nike that automatically identifies defective outsoles. The AI analyzes surfaces captured with industrial high-resolution cameras and dedicated lighting, locating defects and grading products pass or fail against product-specific standards. This year’s mass-production validation achieved 99.7% and 99.2% defect detection rates on two styles, respectively, clearing Nike Footwear’s final validation.
Conducted for production-line deployment rather than mere performance evaluation, the validation paves the way for commercialization. Genon is preparing the mass-production model: development starts before year-end, with deployment beginning in 2027, and phased expansion to more products and lines.
Building on this, Genon won a Vision AI project this year to detect micro-defects in stitched and bonded areas of shoe uppers, using ultra-high-resolution cameras and multi-angle lighting to capture their complex structures. Inspection will later extend to midsoles and finished products, supporting quality-control automation across footwear manufacturing.
Genon secured a Physical AI contract to automate production by pairing collaborative robots with vision cameras for repetitive outsole-pressing tasks. It will combine existing robot control with AI-based motion generation, enabling robots to recognize objects and move accordingly, and learn skilled motions from operators’ teleoperation demonstrations—all to achieve 24-hour continuous operation and greater process efficiency.
Through these contracts, PT Genon Global Indonesia, Genon’s subsidiary established this year led by President and Managing Director Tae Ryong Kim, targets first-year profitability. Genon will continue pursuing Vision AI and Physical AI opportunities to strengthen its base in Indonesia.
Beyond footwear, Genon is exploring shipbuilding and offshore industries, leveraging its manufacturing automation business in Indonesia. A prime example is an AI solution under development for global offshore engineering firm IKM Group to analyze vessel-related documents and automatically generate work-plan reports. Building on these solutions, Genon plans to gradually expand its opportunities in the global market.
Seok Tae Ko, CEO of Genon, said, “In AI manufacturing automation, competitiveness depends not only on technical accuracy but on understanding real production environments and on-site deployment capability.” He added, “We will deepen collaboration with local customers and advance our execution capabilities, from development through commercialization, to build a sustainable foundation for overseas growth.”
