Novarc Technologies provides game-changing technology to increase fabrication productivity. New welding automation technology delivers significantly higher performance than historical welding practices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 5, 2023
VANCOUVER, CANADA – Novarc Technologies Inc. (“Novarc”), a full-stack robotics company specializing in the design and commercialization of collaborative robots (“cobots”) and AI systems for robotic welding applications, announced today the company will be unveiling its Spool Welding Robot (SWR™), collaborative welding robot, and the SWR+HyperFill® at Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW) in Melbourne, May 9-12.
“The SWR+HyperFill system featuring Lincoln Electric’s patented technology, allows pipe fabrication shops to achieve higher performance and quality, increasing the margins on projects they have already won, and giving them the ability to become more competitive when bidding on key infrastructure projects,” says Novarc’s VP of Sales & Marketing, Rick Campbell.
According to Weld Australia, ANZ has a $237 billion pipeline of infrastructure spend, but industry predictions warn that by 2030, Australia will be short 70,000 skilled welders to deliver the critical energy, defence, rail & infrastructure required to fuel this dramatic growth. Fabrication shop capacity restraints; issues resulting from supply chain shortages; competition from overseas; and declining profit margins are all contributing factors. Fabrication shops serving a number of industries are considering robotic welding to help solve this challenge, and are actively searching for a path to automation.
Novarc launched the world’s first welding cobot in 2016, which improved productivity and quality on the shop floor and reduced costs for pipe fabricators. The SWR™ uses a floating long reach manipulator, with a three-axis robotic arm at the end, which works with a human operator to increase their dexterity and flexibility. It is designed specifically for pipe, small pressure vessel and other types of roll welding, and is capable of welding flanges, tees, elbows and reducers.
“Implementation of the SWR™ has shown a 3-5x increase in pipe welding productivity in carbon steel and up to 12x for stainless steel projects, potentially allowing the collaborative robot’s capital cost to be recovered in an average of six to 18 months,” says Campbell.
The SWR™ also lowers the repair rate to less than one per cent as Novarc’s welding robot works collaboratively with the human operator. As an example, if a fabrication shop is currently producing 6,000 welds per year with a three per cent repair rate, they are likely spending around $180,000/year in repairs. By reducing the repair rate to less than one per cent, they can put those repair costs back onto their bottom line.
The SWR+HyperFill specifically is a highly efficient dual torch system that increases heavy fabrication productivity to 350-500 Factored Diameter Inches (FDI) per shift by increasing weld deposition rates, all while delivering excellent weld quality.
The SWR+HyperFill uses the Lincoln STT GMAW process on the root, and twin wire GMAW-P (HyperFill®) on fill and cap passes. SWR+HyperFill utilizes Lincoln Electric’s patented twin-wire GMAW solution, HyperFill, to maximize productivity and profitability.
“This automation technology addresses the increasingly competitive market in the contract manufacturing and fabrication industry, constantly under pressure to decrease bid rates and project timeframes. As well, this technology helps to solve the ominous welder shortage, allowing highly-skilled welders to extend their careers, and less-skilled welders working alongside the robot to do the job that previously only highly-skilled welders could perform,” adds Campbell.
The Spool Welding Robot+HyperFill will be on display at AMW May 9-12, and demonstration times are available, by appointment, at Novarc’s booth #WA180.
About Novarc Technologies Inc:
Novarc is a Vancouver-based full-stack robotics company specializing in the design and commercialization of cobots and AI systems for robotic welding applications. Novarc’s Spool Welding Robot (SWR) is the world’s first of its kind in pipe welding machines and applications. As a proven pioneer in the field, Novarc has dedicated a team of engineers and scientists to solve challenging welding automation problems that improve customers’ bottom line.
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For more information, please contact:
Debra Hadden, Novarc Technologies Inc., +1 604 240-3196 debra@novarctech.com