Splash247: HD Hyundai Robotics wins first US shipyard automation deal

Published by Splash247

HD Hyundai Robotics has secured its first robotic welding solution order for the US shipbuilding sector, signing a deal to supply its ArcLift GO system to multiple shipyards operated by Chouest Group.

Under the agreement, ArcLift GO robotic welding systems will be deployed at three Chouest Group shipyards in North America, including facilities in Louisiana, as well as one yard in Brazil.

The deal comes as US shipbuilders grapple with an increasingly severe shortage of skilled welders, a problem industry executives now describe as a structural constraint on productivity rather than a temporary labour issue.

HD Hyundai Robotics said its approach combines technology validation, process optimisation and phased deployment to allow robotic systems to supplement and replace manual welding work.

Automation is also taking on greater strategic significance in the US amid political efforts to strengthen domestic industrial capability and supply chain resilience. Proposed legislation such as the Robot Security Act is expected to accelerate investment in manufacturing and shipyard automation technologies.

ArcLift GO is designed as a plug-and-play robotic welding system capable of delivering consistent weld quality while reducing dependence on highly skilled labour. The company said its operating software allows workers with limited robotics experience to manage multiple units simultaneously and adapt the systems to different working environments and vessel geometries.