Skilled labour with a fun factor

Colleague, specialist, automation assistant: Cobots make life easier for welding and cutting professionals – and improve companies’ production efficiency. It’s a development that can be observed worldwide. Surveys by the market research company Fortune Business Insights show that the global market for welding robot solutions is set to double between 2020 and 2028, growing from around 5 billion a year to just under 10 billion US dollars. An ever-larger share of this growth is being driven by cobots and other automated support systems. The advantages of collaborative robots are particularly compelling for medium-sized enterprises.

Guide the torch to the starting point, choose the right position, set the contour points along the planned weld seam, save the sequence – and the cobot is programmed! Is it really that simple? The professionals at Knoll Maschinenbau GmbH in Bad Saulgau know the answer: "Operating cobots is intuitive and actually quite fun. This is especially evident among younger welders. They think cobot welding is cool – partly because it’s about as straightforward as using a smartphone,” says welding technology supervisor Holger Kleck, making a strong case for cobots. The company employs 1,100 people and supplies modern industrial systems to customers in Germany, Poland, China and the USA.

Their cobot comes from Fronius, a specialist in high-quality welding solutions. "The combination of state-of-the-art welding technology and extensive technical features reduces personnel costs and frees welding specialists to focus on more demanding tasks. Cobots don’t just make welding more economical and safer – they also make the profession more attractive," emphasises Harald Scherleitner MBA, Chief Sales Officer (CSO) at Fronius International GmbH.

Welding and cutting in a single system

A new combination is also opening up fresh possibilities: Behind the name XFLARE is a system that brings welding and cutting together on a single platform. Sounds promising, but does it actually work in practice? Günthner Metallbau in Eging am See (Bavaria) has been using the system – and running it continuously. The company manufactures gates, staircases, railings, canopies and custom structures. Founder and Managing Director Stephan Günthner describes the system as a "tremendous relief". "In the past, we had to outsource the cutting of components. Now we can do it in-house and cut delivery times by as much as three weeks. Switching between welding and cutting is completely straightforward and takes just a few seconds. The weld seams are cleaner and better than those done by hand, and the whole process is much faster. When cutting, you can immediately see how precisely the machine works. Thanks to its 5-axis technology, we can even machine beams without any reworking."

The system was developed by Xtraction GmbH. What was their intention? "Our goal was to combine the two core processes of metalworking in such a way that they naturally complement one another in day-to-day work. The integrated 6-axis welding robot and 5-axis cutting function are coordinated by intelligent software that enables a seamless switch between the two processes in under ten seconds. At the same time, XFLARE can be integrated effortlessly into existing production environments and helps companies become less dependent on external service providers,” explains Patrick Fischer, Managing Director of Xtraction GmbH.

Innovative trade fair format

Summary: The use of cobots and similar technologies relieves welding and cutting professionals, increases the efficiency of production processes, helps counteract the shortage of skilled labour and is, overall, a safe investment. Those who have worked with these systems can confirm it – and visitors to the Urban Steel Expo 2027 will be able to experience it for themselves.

The Ultimate World of Cutting and Welding – Urban Steel Expo, or USE for short, is the new hotspot for welding and cutting specialists. This new trade fair format will make its debut at the Messe Düsseldorf exhibition centre from 20 to 23 April 2027.
More information: www.use-expo.com

The Ultimate World of Cutting and Welding – Urban Steel Expo

With The Ultimate World of Cutting and Welding – Urban Steel Expo, or USE for short, Messe Düsseldorf has developed a new trade fair concept tailored specifically to the needs of the welding and cutting industry. This innovative platform combines technology, business and event culture, enabling a fresh kind of exchange and networking. From 20 to 23 April 2027, USE will celebrate its premiere, and thereafter the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre will transform every four years into an international hub for companies specialising in separation and joining technologies, along with related processes and technologies. With USE 2027 the traditional trade fair format is being redefined: technology, business, creativity and community merge into a single industry event. This new platform brings together global market and innovation leaders and showcases forward-looking technologies.