Novarc Technologies Inc., a full-stack robotics company, specialising in the design and manufacturing of cobots and computer vision AI for automated welding applications, announced today that the company will be exhibiting at SMM 2024 from 3-6 September 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. Novarc’s NovEye Autonomy (Gen 2), the company’s recently released real-time vision processing system constantly improves weld quality based on data collection and model enhancement to fully automate the pipe welding process while maximising productivity and delivering the highest quality welds.
Novarc’s welding automation technology has revolutionised manufacturing processes and is a productivity game changer for pipe fabrication shops serving the global maritime industry. The SWR uses a floating long-reach manipulator, with a three-axis robotic arm at the end, designed specifically for pipe, small pressure vessel, and other types of roll welding, and is capable of welding flanges, tees, elbows, and reducers.
“Across Germany and Northern Europe, Novarc’s SWR is helping fabricators and engineering companies servicing the marine industry to address the skilled welder shortage and transition to an automated solution, to make them more competitive and significantly lower the cost of welding, while achieving superior weld quality,” said Novarc CEO Soroush Karimzadeh.
Being a cobot, Novarc’s SWR works collaboratively alongside the human operator and allows less-skilled welders to work alongside the robot to do the job that previously only highly-skilled welders could perform. The consistent result is welds with greater precision, accuracy, and speed, and a never before achieved balance of quality and productivity.
“Whether you’re a shipyard focused on new builds or a drydock specialising in repairs, our Spool Welding Robot can help you shorten project timelines and save money, making it the perfect solution for both retrofits and new constructions,” says Karimzadeh. “Shipyards specializing in new construction will be particularly interested in our NovEye Autonomy SWR where we have developed the intelligence to fully automate the welding process. This is an industry-first accomplishment resulting from years of data collected through machine learning.”
NovEye Autonomy (Gen 2) is the only AI machine learning real-time vision processing system that constantly improves welds based on data collection and model enhancement. NovEye Autonomy gets smarter as it continuously improves through a terabyte-scale library of welding videos, ensuring unmatched precision and reliability.
Implementation of the SWR has shown a three-to-five-times increase in pipe welding productivity in carbon steel and up to 12 times for stainless steel projects, potentially allowing the collaborative robot’s capital investment to be recovered in an average of six to 18 months.
The Novarc team will be Seaspan Shipyards’ booth (Hall B2.EG, Stand 109) and Pemamek’s booth (Hall B2.EG, Stand 108).