The shipbuilding industry relies heavily on welding in order to achieve watertight and oil-tight joints. However, welding is the most expensive and time consuming component of the shipbuilding manufacturing process. The ultimate shipbuilding welding goal is to produce a smooth hull, reducing bare hull resistance and necessary power requirements for the ship. Sounds like a good deal!
But why not use rivet joints instead of welded joints?
Compared to rivet joints, welded joints are easier to produce which subsequently shortens the project timeframe. Welded joints also weigh considerably less and require little to no maintenance follow up.
Common welding techniques in shipyards:
- Arc welding
- Gas welding
- Resistance welding
The impact of robotic welding on the shipbuilding industry
Shipbuilding is an old world craft that’s being modernized through automation and other technologies. Shipyards used to be teeming with large swaths of skilled workers, but that isn’t the case anymore. The labour gap is intensifying on shipyards because adjacent industries like oil and gas, construction, nuclear and solar are attracting and keeping highly skilled welders. As such, shipyards have been turning to automated welding to increase production levels and improve working conditions for humans.
As more manufacturers rely on robotic welding, they’re quickly realizing that it has created jobs because of additional competitive advantages and safer working conditions that attracts top talent.