Novarc Technologies to Unveil Spool Welding Robot+HyperFill at FABTECH 2021

Novarc Technologies Inc. yesterday said that it plans to unveil its new Spool Welding Robot+HyperFill technology at the FABTECH event next month in Chicago. The dual-torch system can increase heavy fabrication productivity to 350 to 500 factored diameter inches, or FDI, per shift by increasing weld deposition rates, said the Vancouver, British Columbia-based company. This can lead to increased efficiency, it said.

“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," said Soroush Karimzadeh, CEO of Novarc. "[It can also reduce] weld and material handling costs compared to the sub-arc process and streamline and simplify production, resulting in a higher return on investment.”

Novarc Technologies designs and commercializes collaborative robots and artificial intelligence for automated welding applications. The company claimed that it launched the world’s first welding cobot at FABTECH in 2017, improving productivity on the shop floor and reducing costs for pipe fabricators.

Novarc SWR works with welders

The SWR uses a floating long-reach manipulator with a three-axis robotic arm at the end, which works with human operators to increase their dexterity and flexibility, said Novarc. Implementation of the SWR can increase pipe-welding productivity by three to five times, potentially allowing the collaborative robot’s capital cost to be recovered in an average of six to 18 months, the company said.

“We have seen productivity increase by more than 400% with clients in industries such as contract manufacturing and shipbuilding," said Karimzadeh. "Still, we wanted to further develop the capabilities of the SWR for pipe fabricators. The outcome was the development of this new, breakthrough technology -- SWR+HyperFill -- which we are very excited to demonstrate at FABTECH 2021.”

Novarc said its technology addresses the increasingly competitive contract-manufacturing and fabrication industry, which is constantly under pressure to decrease bid rates and project timeframes.

In addition, SWR can alleviate labor shortages by allowing highly-skilled welders to extend their careers. Less-skilled welders working alongside the robot can do jobs that previously only highly-skilled welders could perform, said Novarc.

Novarc's Spool Welding Robot+HyperFill will be on display at Booth B23034 at FABTECH, and demonstration times are available by appointment from Sept. 13 to 16.