Welding project uses robotics to crunch 12 workhours into 45 minutes - The Robot Report

The article details a successful automation project undertaken by Properly Works and Seibel Modern to dramatically improve the efficiency of fabricating steel fencing for a bridge construction project. Faced with the challenge of producing over 3 miles of fencing within 90 weeks—each segment requiring about 10 hours of manual welding and setup—Seibel Modern partnered with Properly Works to develop a fully automated robotic welding work cell. This integrated system, orchestrated by an AutomationDirect Productivity PLC, synchronized the welding process, robot movements, and fixture positioning, achieving a remarkable 12-to-1 reduction in production time (compressing 12 work hours into 45 minutes) while also reducing rework by 50%. The collaboration leveraged Seibel Modern’s expertise in welding geometry and fixture design alongside Properly Works’ automation and sensor integration capabilities. The automated fixture featured a servo motor-driven rack-and-pinion mechanism and hydraulic lift for precise positioning, synchronized with the robotic welding arm’s gantry system. A programmable logic controller (