FACE TO FACE
A MIG / MAG( CMT) robotic welding cell at the Fronius Prototyping and Manufacturing Centre. can be maintained, despite a few vacancies. Automation effectively compensates wherever skilled labour shortages exist.
ISMR: What is your strategic and technical / technology focus for the company? How do you aim to achieve this?
Over the past two years, we have therefore developed various solutions for high-quality welding results in manual welding and can offer excellent solutions, ranging from AR( Augmented Reality)-supported welding training and intuitively operated welding machines with numerous predefined characteristics to guided assistance for MIG / MAG welding( Velo) and TIG support( DynamicWire).
The digitalisation of welding will continue. It can help to reduce the complexity of tasks for welders. Digital welding plans, also known as Weld Sequencing, are one possibility. Complex tasks are broken down into partial work steps, while ensuring that they are carried out to standard thanks to correctly assigned welding parameters. The welder then follows the step-by-step instructions that he sees in front of him on a screen. If a quality-critical error occurs, the process is immediately interrupted, and the welding supervisor is informed( even before subsequent errors occur). This reduces production errors and costly rework.
The most important way of dealing with the shortage of qualified workers is to automate production. Compact cobot cells are particularly popular. These are equipped with collaborative robots that allow man and machine to work very close together. Cobots are a very good choice as a first step in automation, especially for small and mediumsized businesses( not least because the use of cobot cells is already economically viable for small batches).
For the manufacture of more complex parts in very large numbers, it is advisable to use individual welding systems, or even complete welding cells, which are assembled according to the company’ s requirements. Priority is always given to the optimum interaction between functionality and cost-effectiveness.
The lack of qualified staff in welding is not a temporary phenomenon. Rather,
it is a structural problem that is having a major impact on the competitiveness of metalworking companies. To deal with it, companies will have to improve their efficiency.
Thanks to digitisation, they can optimise training and reduce learning times. Easy-to-use welding workstations equipped with assistive technologies also mean that productivity
Above and below: The Fronius stand at Schweissen and Schneiden 2025.
HL: We will of course focus on the major driving topics in welding technology such as rising quality requirements across all industries, but the welding specialists that are needed are‘ few and far between’.
Resource efficiency is also highly important from an economic and ecological perspective, especially when it comes to filler metals, gas and energy. It is essential to avoid production errors and time-consuming rework.
All in all, we see great potential for further digitalisation with the use of artificial intelligence and automation where manpower is lacking. We already hold around 1,750 patents, and I am convinced that our dedicated developers will ensure that more are added soon.
ISMR: Which areas or regions of growth / opportunity( geographical, technological or other) can you highlight for sheet metal manufacturers?
HL: We are a global supplier with 37 subsidiaries worldwide and numerous sales partners. This means that we keep a close eye on the markets and naturally perceive differences in welding technology in regions such as America, Asia and Europe.
Many companies in North America( USA) are bringing their production back to the U. S. due to the current political situation. As a supplier of high-end welding solutions for manual, robot-assisted and automated welding, we see great potential here. Furthermore, our new products( such as the Fronius Fortis and the Ignis Battery) are ideal for this market.
30 | ismr. net | ISMR October 2025