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Novarc Technologies will unveil its Spool Welding Robot+HyperFill solution at FabTech, which runs September 13-16 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The SWR+HyperFill is a dual torch system designed to increase heavy fabrication productivity by increasing weld deposition rates. The Vancouver, British Columbia-based company claims it can increase productivity by 350-500 factored diameter inches (FDI).

Novarc launched a welding cobot at FabTech in 2017. 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.

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 uses Lincoln Electric’s patented twin-wire GMAW solution, HyperFill. It can be used on carbon steel pressure process pipes or vessels with 0.5” – 2.5” thickness and as low as 6” in diameter. The system also has the flexibility of using root to cap GMAW or switch to FCAW or MCAW for the fill and cap passes.

“With Novarc’s SWR+HyperFill, pipe fabrication shops are guaranteed higher performance, by being able to increase weld deposition rates and deliver excellent weld quality; lower the cost by reducing weld and material handling costs compared to the sub-arc process; and streamline and simplify production, resulting in a higher return on investment,” said Novarc CEO Soroush Karimzadeh.

Karimzadeh will be a panelist in our upcoming Collaborative Robotics Week, a series of virtual sessions that run Sept. 7-10. He is speaking on the panel “Welding and Metal Fabrication Using Collaborative Robotics Systems” on September 10 at 11 AM Eastern.

At FabTech, the SWR+HyperFill will be on display, and demonstration times are available at Novarc’s booth #B23034.

“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,” said Karimzadeh.

In other cobot welding news, Universal Robots (UR) has seen a major uptick in welding applications. After entering the welding market about three years ago, welding applications have grown to be about 6% of UR’s global sales. UR said it is on pace to sell 1,000 cobots into welding applications in 2021, which is more than triple the pace from 2020.