Robotic welding on the rise due to skills shortage
According to the Ferret.com.au website, there is such a shortage of welding talent out there that it's driving more and more manufacturers to install automated welding machines. With better computer controls and more ability to automate, there are some formerly labor intensive welding jobs that are being moved into automation. If a company can replace a $50,000 a year welder with a $150,000 robot, they will do it because in 36 months (or less in the right) they'll have paid for that robot. The site reports that much of the conversion to automation is coming from the United States and Japan.
If it's not the right application, they'll have themselves a great coat rack, so companies have to be careful about this kind of conversion to automation
That robot won't call in sick unless they don't maintain it. It won't go on strike. It won't take two weeks of vacation a year or have health insurance.
Before you go thinking it's the end of the world for welders, relax. Rote, every day the same way jobs can be automated a hell of a lot easier than most welding jobs. Certain things, such as in repetitive manufacturing will go that way. But that's just the way of the world. I've been in grocery stores without any people to help me. I just check it out at the automated scanner. That's going to happen to those kind of repetive tasks whether they are welding or not.
Some snippets:
LONG production lines working 24 hours a day utilising robotic welders is a method of manufacturing normally associated with the automotive industry. But in fact robotic welding is being adopted by an increasing number of manufacturers, with most facing skills shortages and increasing labour costs.
“The other possibility is a smaller quantity of repeat items with each containing a significant amount of welding. In the end it’s all about having enough work to keep the robot welding all day, every day. Industries that are having difficulty in sourcing and keeping production welders may also benefit from robotic arc welding.”
“Converting to robotic welding really depends on the job and application,” he said. “Robotic welding combinations can start from $150,000 for a lower end robotic MIG welding system and ramp up from there depending upon welding technology required. However nothing extra is required beyond normal welding consumables except standard maintenance,” Deuchar said.
If it's not the right application, they'll have themselves a great coat rack, so companies have to be careful about this kind of conversion to automation
That robot won't call in sick unless they don't maintain it. It won't go on strike. It won't take two weeks of vacation a year or have health insurance.
Before you go thinking it's the end of the world for welders, relax. Rote, every day the same way jobs can be automated a hell of a lot easier than most welding jobs. Certain things, such as in repetitive manufacturing will go that way. But that's just the way of the world. I've been in grocery stores without any people to help me. I just check it out at the automated scanner. That's going to happen to those kind of repetive tasks whether they are welding or not.
Some snippets:
LONG production lines working 24 hours a day utilising robotic welders is a method of manufacturing normally associated with the automotive industry. But in fact robotic welding is being adopted by an increasing number of manufacturers, with most facing skills shortages and increasing labour costs.
“The other possibility is a smaller quantity of repeat items with each containing a significant amount of welding. In the end it’s all about having enough work to keep the robot welding all day, every day. Industries that are having difficulty in sourcing and keeping production welders may also benefit from robotic arc welding.”
“Converting to robotic welding really depends on the job and application,” he said. “Robotic welding combinations can start from $150,000 for a lower end robotic MIG welding system and ramp up from there depending upon welding technology required. However nothing extra is required beyond normal welding consumables except standard maintenance,” Deuchar said.
posted by Scott at 5:10 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home