North Vancouver’s Novarc Technologies will be receiving more than $2 million from the federal government to help it market its welding robots on the global stage.
Novarc’s Spool Welding Robot (SWR) is the world’s first of its kind in pipe welding machines and applications giving traditional industries a route to automation.
“There are innovative companies across British Columbia that are developing technologies that will help solve the challenges of today and tomorrow. Novarc Technologies Inc. is one of those companies, using advanced manufacturing to create solutions to global problems and they are based right here in North Vancouver,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for North Vancouver.
Novarc Technologies is a full-stack robotics company specializing in the design and commercialization of cobots and AI systems for robotic welding applications. Welding is needed to build key infrastructure, in a variety of industrial settings, such as hospitals, wastewater treatment plants, and shipyards. As such, the need for prefabrication has grown up to 20 per cent for pipe welding. Novarc’s solution automates the manufacturing process of welding – allowing welders of all skill levels to work collaboratively with the robot – increasing safety and productivity up to five times in carbon steel pipe welding and up to 12 times on stainless steel pipes.
The government funding for Novarc, which amounts to $2,065,000, is being provided through PacifiCan’s Business Scale-up and Productivity program.
Novarc has already installed spool welding robot units in North America, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and China and has plans for further expansion.
The investment is expected to support 53 new jobs at Novarc Technologies Inc. and generate increased revenues.
