The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and TÜV Rheinland recently co-hosted the “Application of 5G Communication Technology in Hazardous Areas” Explosion-Proof Technology Symposium and jointly signed a strategic cooperation agreement.

The partnership aims to promote the safe deployment of 5G equipment in high-risk environments such as petrochemical and oil & gas facilities, addressing industry needs in smart manufacturing and industrial safety monitoring.

With its low latency and high connectivity, 5G is becoming an essential tool for industrial monitoring. However, in areas with explosion or combustion risks, all related equipment must comply with international explosion-proof standards such as ATEX and IECEx.
The symposium focused on explosion-proof applications for 5G base stations, antennas, and routers, helping companies understand regulatory trends and accelerate digital transformation in hazardous locations.

Dr. Lai Chiu-Chu, Deputy Director-General of ITRI’s Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, noted that ITRI has already implemented 5G industrial communication equipment in Kaohsiung’s petrochemical pipeline network to enhance real-time monitoring and anomaly reporting.
To ensure operational safety, the system must incorporate sensors, industrial gateways, and 5G modules, all of which must pass international explosion-proof certification. Through this collaboration with TÜV Rheinland, ITRI will integrate design and validation mechanisms that reduce equipment failure risks and strengthen safety monitoring in Taiwan’s petrochemical industry.

TÜV Rheinland Industrial Services & Safety Manager Liao Jun-Man (pictured, left) stated that most domestic factories have multiple levels of hazardous areas, and frequent industrial safety incidents highlight the growing importance of compliance and certification.
As 5G communication systems are introduced into factories, any equipment used in explosive gas or combustible dust environments must meet strict explosion-proof requirements. TÜV Rheinland Taiwan’s laboratory obtained IECEx ExTL accreditation at the end of 2022, enabling it to conduct IECEx, ATEX, and multi-country certification services locally—helping manufacturers shorten certification timelines and improve export efficiency.

Industry experts note that as global expectations for industrial digitalization and safety compliance continue to rise, explosion-proof 5G applications are expected to become a major investment focus, serving as a critical driver for digital upgrades in high-risk sectors such as petrochemical and oil & gas industries.

研討會花絮

▲The opening session was delivered by Manager Lee Chao-Jen from ITRI’s Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, who introduced the key theme of the event — “How 5G Can Be Applied in Hazardous Areas.”

▲Mr. Lee Po-Yi, Manager of the Strategic Services Department at SANCS (Sanctity Industrial), followed with a presentation focusing on the application vision of integrating 5G with explosion-proof equipment.

▲Our explosion-proof tablet remained the social favorite of the event — during the networking session, attendees eagerly gathered around it for discussion and hands-on exploration, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere.

▲The symposium concluded on a high note.