These new simple, space-saving, and efficient welding cells take just a few minutes to be ready for operation. Their compact build keeps their footprint small and makes them easy to relocate later. The special cell construction maximises freedom of movement for the robot and permits complete integration of the welding power source in spite of its small size. The welding cells perfectly supplement manual workplaces like this.

The welding cells are available as the ArcWorld HS Micro, with a footprint of 1.3 square metres, and the ArcWorld RS Mini with a footprint of 2.3 square metres. A maxi version with the ArcWorld CS is also available for larger parts or customer-specific requirements. The platform and housings are equipped with a blue polycarbonate glare protection and use the tried and tested MOTOMAN AR900 robot by Yaskawa. With their rotating turntable that permits setting up parts of up to 100 kilograms on either side, the RS Mini compact welding cell offers a very high parts throughput. Parts with up to 100 kilograms can be produced in the HS Micro with its attached table as well.

The S3- and S3-RoboMIG XT with their complete Lorch Speed welding processes are available as welding power sources (MIG-MAG). The combined Lorch and Yaskawa solution is made special by integrating the control in a single operating panel. The Universal Welding Interface (UWI) is used to program robots, to set and select the welding processes. The optimal adjustment of the components makes operation of the welding system much easier.

The welding cells are an enclosed, compact system that can be integrated very easily into any production environment. With their glare protection and safety functions, they easily comply with all provisions under labour law. The exhaust stack integrated in the roof also simplifies connection to extraction devices. The high-performance robot affords all functions of a welding robot and warrants very high seam quality and repeatability.

“We consistently implement the “Plug & Weld” concept with the Lorch Yaskawa compact ArcWorld RS Mini and HS Micro welding cells while offering companies greatest safety in installation, clearly increased productivity, and highly automated welding environments in industrial robot quality,” says Daniel Lang, product manager for Robotics and Automation at Lorch Schweißtechnik. Companies that want to launch into automated welding without a comprehensive, costly robot project will find this an attractive solution in order to actively handle their current challenges, and to deal in particular with the lack of specialists and competitive pressure.

The compact welding cells are another result of the Europe-wide cooperation agreed by Yaskawa and Lorch Schweißtechnik last year in order to automate production processes specifically in the medium-sized range and to adjust existing structures to a digital modernised production.