This presentation explores how digital weld measurement and robotic welding can support productivity, weld consistency and traceable quality records in steel fabrication. It introduces LC GEAR alongside semi-automatic robotic welding and fully automated industrial welding, with a practical focus on matching the level of automation to the workpiece and production requirements.

LC GEAR: Digital transformation through adoption of non-destructive technologies (NDT)

LC GEAR is a portable handheld 3D measurement system designed for accurate measurement and documentation of weld profiles. LC GEAR uses laser scanning technology to accurately measure weld leg lengths for both fillet and butt weld joints. Operating similarly to a barcode scanner, this tool eliminates the need for conventional welding gauges and manual measurement procedures. The session will explain how readings are automatically saved by the measuring device and exported into Excel. This reduces handwritten documentation and supports document quality management. Organising records in a company OneDrive or approved cloud-synchronised folder can strengthen traceability and make inspection information easier to retrieve and review.

Collaborative Welding Robot (COLBOT): Semi-automatic robotic welding

The COLBOT: Collaborative Agile Welding Robot is a next-generation robotics system designed to support trained welders to perform automated welding operations with no-coding experience & requirements. The session will examine how an operator-assisted approach greatly simplifies the practical setup, operator involvement and suitability for varied fabrication work, hence supporting a move towards greater automation with a much cheaper price tag to implement such systems.

Fully automated industrial welding & Customisable motorized systems

The presentation will also introduce a fully automated industrial welding configuration. Features covered include a motorised platform, pneumatic clamping, programmed welding, automatic wire feeding and workpiece flipping. The discussion will consider how coordinated welding and handling can support repeatable production, together with the importance of suitable fixtures, process qualification and operating safeguards. In some cases, by tailoring the customised robotic solution to the customer’s needs, the machine is simplified tremendously and it therefore not only easier to implement, but it also comes with a lower price tag.