By Novarc Technologies
Pipe welding is a difficult task that requires focus, endurance, and skill. Because of this, errors happen, and this can drastically impact a shop’s bottom line.
To complete x-ray welds that adhere to ASME B31.1, ASME B31.3 standards it’s important to focus on quality closely. Most pipe fab shops that are doing projects that require the welds to be x-rayed, have a repair rate of 3-5% with highly skilled human welders. Let’s say you have 6,000 welds per year and a 3% repair rate, that would equal around $180,000/year in repair costs.
The reality is, robotics and automation are required to optimize your accuracy and lower repair rates. If you were able to get your repair rate under 1% the impact on your bottom line will be huge. For example, some of our customers are seeing 0% – 0.5% repair rates with Novarc’s Spool Welding Robot.
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Let’s do a simple math equation to determine how this can affect your bottom line:
Recall that 6,000 welds per year with a 3% repair rate amounts to around $180,000/year in repair costs. Reducing the repair rates to 0.5% allows a shop to recover around $150,000/year back onto the bottom-line.
Even the best welders aren’t perfect, they can have their off days. Robotics and automation improves quality with precision and non-stop consistency. This will effectively minimize or completely eliminate human error. Having this kind of consistency can do wonders for your business as you’re able to predict timelines better and forecast financials more accurately.
Novarc Technologies, headquartered in North Vancouver, BC, creates intelligent welding cobots that work alongside humans to automate some of the world’s toughest welding jobs. For more information go to: www.novarctech.com
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