Novarc Technologies Inc., a Canadian full-stack robotics company specializing in the design and commercialization of collaborative robots and AI systems for robotic welding applications, will be demonstrating its Spool Welding Robot (SWR), collaborative welding robot, and the SWR+HyperFill at FABTECH.
“With the recent passage of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, America’s manufacturing base, across a number of categories, will be re-invigorated. Funding is already flowing to programs that support the development and deployment of new technologies, major transportation projects, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and modernizing the power grid. Fabrication shops serving these industries are considering automation and robotic welding as a solution to meet the challenge of this massive investment in America’s future,” the company says.
Novarc’s Spool Welding Robot features 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 vessels and other types of roll welding, and is capable of welding flanges, tees, elbows and reducers.
“Implementation of the SWR has shown a 3-5x increase in pipe welding productivity in carbon steel and up to 12x for stainless steel projects, potentially allowing the collaborative robot’s capital cost to be recovered in an average of six to 18 months,” says Novarc’s VP of Sales & Marketing, Rick Campbell.
The SWR also lowers the repair rate to less than one per cent as Novarc’s welding robot works collaboratively with the human operator, the company says. For example, if a fabrication shop is currently producing 6,000 welds per year with a three per cent repair rate, they are likely spending around $180,000/year in repairs. By reducing the repair rate to less than one per cent, they can put those repair costs back onto their bottom line.
The SWR+HyperFill increases heavy fabrication productivity to 350-500 Factored Diameter Inches (FDI) per shift by increasing weld deposition rates, all while delivering excellent weld quality.
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 utilizes Lincoln Electric’s patented twin-wire GMAW solution, HyperFill, to maximize productivity and profitability.
“The SWR+HyperFill system, featuring Lincoln Electric’s patented technology, allows pipe fabrication shops to achieve higher performance and quality, increasing the margins on projects they have already won, and giving them the ability to become more competitive when bidding on key infrastructure projects,” says Campbell.
“Novarc’s 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, our technology helps 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,” Campbell adds.
Novarc recently announced the successful completion of a Series A fundraising round with Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. ((NYSE: CAT), a global leader in the manufacturing of construction and mining equipment). Caterpillar has joined Graham Partners, Export Development Canada (EDC) and other syndicate investors, to provide strategic support to Novarc’s vision to accelerate the development of its ground-breaking AI-powered robotics platform.
Demonstration times are available at Novarc’s booth #B11051.
