The situation of a lack of welding specialists on the market is very tense and will not change in the foreseeable future. This is particularly difficult for companies that mainly manufacture hand-welded products, such as complex pipe structures. Welding has to be carried out three-dimensionally and in several layers. Welders who weld such constructions require special knowledge and skills – and are becoming increasingly rare on the market. There is a lack of young welding specialists.
Challenges when welding three-dimensional pipe systems
Pipe systems are mostly large constructions made of thick sheet metal. The welds are three-dimensional, i.e. not linear, and must be welded in several layers. Some of the workpieces are therefore extremely demanding. However, it is not only the demands on the skill of the welding specialist that are high, but also the physical strain. Welding pipes always means welding in difficult positions.
2 solutions for semi-automated pipe welding
The following two solutions for semi-automated pipe welding are a possible solution:
- A welding cobot placed on a positioning band automatically follows the weld seam and welds in multi-layer technology from root to cap.
- A welding cobot including equipment is placed on a forklift that can move into the pipe structure to also weld the layers three-dimensionally. The welding head is equipped with a camera system and intelligent software.
Indispensable: targeted training
Such semi-automated solutions are certainly a great help for welding specialists – but there are still enough welding tasks that have to be carried out manually. Special exercises help the muscular system of welders to recover after a hard day's work and be strengthened at the same time. If done regularly, this training can improve health and specifically prevent pain caused by stress. Check out the Fitness Manual for Welders and this video for more.
If you would like to learn more about three-dimensional pipe welding, please watch this video.
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