Robotic Welding Trends for 2022

 

Robotic Welding Trends for 2022

 

Like most manual and fabrication processes in the digital age, welding has been enhanced and improved by technological concepts such as automation in recent times.

 

In fact, the global robotic welding market peaked at a value of $5.450.5 million in 2018, while this figure is set to increase further to $10,784.4 million by 2026. During this period, the market will grow at a CAGR of 8.7%, highlighting the growing influence of robotics on welding applications.

 

But what are the main robotic welding trends to look out for in 2022? Here are a few to focus your attention on:

 

#1. Improved Speed and Precision With Robotic Welding

Ultimately, there are numerous benefits of robotic welding, from improved efficiency and deployment of skills to creating considerably safer and more realistic training environments.

 

It’s also clear that robotic welding can enhance precision and the consistency of workmanship (even across complex applications), while simultaneously increasing output and the number of parts welded every hour.

This is underpinned by a concept referred to as ‘adaptive control’. Based on cutting edge technology and the principles of machine learning, adaptive control draws on welding data from different robots. This is then logged and subsequently analysed to identify ways in which processes can be enhanced going forward.

 

Adaptive control can leverage some granular datasets, such as the voltage of machines and the level of resistance incurred during welding. Other factors such as temperature are also considered, with a view to creating adaptive robots that continually operate in optimal conditions.

 

These datasets are then reviewed to identify specific improvements, especially those pertaining to the speed and precisionof operations.

 

Typically, individual adjustments save robotic welding controls milliseconds, but adopting this approach across the board can deliver significant gains in speed, accuracy and efficiency over time.

 

#2. Ushering in the Age of Industry 4.0

The term ‘Industry 4.0’ refers to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which conceptualises the rapid pace of technological advancement and the wider impact of interconnectivity and smart automation across a broad range of industries.

 

Of course, the global coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the impact of Industry 4.0, as businesses have sought to embrace digitisation and create a more resilient value chain that safeguards against future disruptions to their operations.

 

The term ‘value chain’ is used to describe the various activities that contribute to a business’s operation, which may include welding applications and key tasks that help to create specific products.

 

Because of this, robotic and automated welding is thought to be at the front and centre of enabling Industry 4.0, as it has already begun to transform various applications and industries through the deployment of cobots (which are collaborative robots that work alongside humans in a shared space) and ‘plug and play’ automation systems.

 

In this respect, Industry 4.0 is already here, while advancements in robotic welding will continue to drive this revolution further by negating the need for complex industrial R & D and allowing businesses to focus on execution and delivering far greater efficiencies.