Imagine a team of robots working together like a pit crew. Instead of using expensive custom clamps to hold a part in place, two robots hold the piece perfectly while a third one welds it. It also works like a high-tech 3D printer to fix expensive broken metal tools instead of throwing them away.
High-mix, low-volume manufacturing is currently slowed down by the need for expensive, custom physical jigs for every new part. This creates high tooling costs and long lead times that make small-batch production unprofitable.
A digital platform for multi-robot coordination and two functional multi-robot cells capable of jigless arc welding and WAAM-based metal repair.
If you are a custom vehicle manufacturer dealing with high-mix, low-volume production and costly custom jigs — this project developed a jigless robotic welding system that eliminates dedicated physical fixtures. This reduces tooling costs and shortens lead times for small-batch manufacturing.
If you are an industrial mold shop dealing with damaged high-value components — this project developed a multi-robot WAAM repair system. It uses a processing robot and an auxiliary robot for 3D scanning and preheating to restore expensive tooling.
If you are a fabricator dealing with complex geometries that require constant machine reconfiguration — this project developed a digital platform with AI models that allow fast adaptation of processes. This ensures high product quality while lowering energy consumption.
It implements a jigless welding approach where robots hold the workpieces, eliminating the need for expensive custom jigs and fixtures. This specifically lowers tooling costs and lead times in high-mix, low-volume settings.
The project targets TRL6, meaning it is validated in two semi-industrial pilots for the automotive and toolmaking sectors. Based on available project data, it is designed for high-mix, low-volume industrial production.
Based on available project data, the project involves 9 partners and 15 external third parties via an Open call, but specific licensing terms are not provided.
The project delivers a digital platform with interoperability capabilities for data management and cognitive human-machine interfaces. This allows the multi-robot cells to be integrated into a flexible production environment.
The project period runs from 2023-10-01 to 2026-09-30, with the final validation of semi-industrial pilots occurring within this window.
The consortium is well-balanced for commercialization, consisting of 9 partners across 6 countries. With a 33% industry ratio (3 industrial partners, including 2 SMEs), there is a strong link between the 2 universities and 1 research center and the actual market needs of the automotive and toolmaking sectors.
Contact LORTEK S COOP in Spain for technical integration details.
Contact us to connect with the COROB consortium for pilot implementation.
