Welding robots will improve safety and labor productivity at the Volgograd Casting and Mechanical Plant
A robotic complex for high‑precision welding operations has been implemented at the Volgograd Casting and Mechanical Plant — a branch of ELTEZA JSC (a subsidiary of Russian Railways, also a part of the GC NPS).
Automation will increase productivity by 10%, reduce operation times by 20%, and improve product quality.
The complex consists of a welding robot with a 16 kg payload capacity and a rotary mechanism. The welding process is fully automated, ensuring high speed, consistent quality and continuity of the technological process (the system is designed for 24/7 non-stop production). The welds are uniform and precise, fully complying with the design documentation requirements. Furthermore, strict adherence to the technological process results in significant material savings.
The complex is controlled from an external panel, which significantly improves workplace safety, as the operator is kept out of the high‑temperature hazard zone. In addition, the physical workload is reduced: the robot handles the heavy, monotonous tasks and frees up the scarce pool of highly qualified welders for more complex operations.
Currently, the robotic system is used for the serial production of sealed wayside equipment for railway signalling systems, including impedance bond holders, rail joint connectors, bushings for base plate connectors. In the future, there are plans to expand the range of products manufactured using robotic welding.