Everyone is struggling to hire and retain good laborers, especially those with welding skills. But when the position is unfilled, a welding system sits idle and doesn’t make a profit. Companies cannot afford to wait for the next skilled welder because the labor pool is dwindling and there’s fierce competition to attract those individuals.

Now job shops and manufacturers can increase output by assigning challenging and complex jobs to skilled welders and using a FastARC CW cobot on simpler welding tasks.

Controlling costs
To battle skyrocketing operational costs across the industry, Acieta has created a cost-effective solution with a short payback timeframe.

“Typical FastARC cobot users see ROI in as little as 6 months (based on 2 shifts), because they are making more product at a much lower cost per part,” says Steve Alexander, vice president of WI operations, at Acieta. “The FastARC CW is a pre-engineered standard product that helps us keep costs low and helps user stay more competitive. Plus, it’s in stock and ready for quick delivery. Plus, financing options are available to keep initial capital expenses low.”

The FastARC CW includes a FANUC CRX-10iA/L 6-axis robot mounted on a mobile platform to move quickly between production areas. The system is compatible with Fronius, Lincoln Electric, and Miller welding units.

Maximizing talent
Intuitive software and a touchscreen interface make the FastARC CW simple to set up and operate so it can be managed by a less skilled worker. One person can operate several FastARC cobots simultaneously for maximum productivity.

With a FastARC on the shop floor, experienced welders have higher job satisfaction doing more stimulating work. Employers with higher production and lower costs may be able to offer more competitive salaries to retain their skilled welders.

As a collaborative robot, it has benefits over a traditional robotic welding system. People can work safely side-by-side loading and unloading parts while the cobot welds so the system runs continually. If the low-speed arm bumps into a person or object, the cobot stops immediately. No safety fencing is needed, which saves on costs and floor space.