Over the past two years, new solutions have been developed at the RoboAI Research Center to improve the productivity, quality, and resource efficiency of welding companies. Welding workshops organized across Satakunta, investments in a cobot station, and a welding calculator designed for companies are concrete examples of how RoboAI develops solutions to meet the needs of regional industry.
Solutions for the everyday challenges of welding companies in Satakunta were explored in the Cobot project. The aim of the research and development work was to create solutions for optimizing welding quality, reducing material waste, and lowering energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. The Cobot project has now ended, but the research and development work continues in two new welding-related projects.
Close cooperation with companies at the core
A key element of welding-related RDI work has been close collaboration with companies. During the Cobot project, a total of five welding workshops were organized across Satakunta, attracting a large number of participants from both local companies and further afield. Events were held in Kankaanpää, Rauma, Kokemäki, and twice in Pori.
Companies also had the opportunity to bring their own test pieces for welding at the cobot station in SAMK’s Mechanical Engineering laboratory. The collaborative robot station, assembled through project investments, includes modern robotic welding equipment as well as tools for quality analysis.
Through experiments, testing, and demonstrations, SMEs improved their expertise in welding robotics, programming, and the use of artificial intelligence. At the same time, RDI collaboration between SAMK and regional companies was further strengthened.
Welding calculator has been published
One of the most important solutions developed during the project to support companies’ daily operations is a welding calculator.
– It is a web-based tool that anyone can use, regardless of whether they are using a phone, tablet, or computer. The tool can be used to calculate heat input for different welding processes, wire consumption, and weld seam volume, explains Hannu Henttinen, project researcher responsible for developing the tool.
The source code is freely available on GitHub, where you can also find a link to the calculator.
The production process, data tool, and cobot station developed in the project will continue to be available for use by companies and RoboAI experts. They support welding companies in their transition toward low-carbon and competitive production.
Development in the welding sector continues
At the beginning of April, two new welding-related projects were launched at the RoboAI Research Center: RELA – Resource-wise manufacturing and TechMetalli – Advanced technologies to support security of supply.
– In the new projects, we focus especially on laser cladding and repair, supported by integrating a handheld laser into the ABB cobot acquired in the Cobot project, says Project Manager Veli-Matti Härmä.
The new projects involve collaboration with a broad network of companies and leading research organizations such as HAMK, Tampere University, and the University of Oulu. They build on the expertise developed so far and respond even more comprehensively to the future needs of industry.
The Cobot project is co-funded by the European Union. The project was carried out from February 1, 2024, to March 31, 2026.
