CTC Tankbouw has recently started using a welding cobot. Unlike our large welding robot, which is mounted on a gantry above the welding table, the cobot is compact and portable: the welder places it on a magnetic base in or next to the workpiece, teaches it the weld pattern, and then lets it weld.

We use the cobot in the production of belly tanks—the integrated fuel tanks mounted beneath emergency power generators for data centers and other facilities. These tanks, in particular, feature long, repetitive weld seams. The cobot takes over that work and produces a consistent, clean weld seam, while our employees focus on preparation, inspection, and finishing.

The cobot works safely alongside our employees, without any protective barriers, and is ready for the next seam within a few minutes. This allows us to reduce physical strain on the shop floor and maintain the quality and turnaround time of our belly tanks, even as demand grows.