POSCO E&C Develops Multi-Layer Welding Automation Technology

POSCO E&C announced on Thursday that it had developed a multi-layer welding automation engineering technology for application in steel bridge construction. (Image courtesy of POSCO E&C)

SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Korea Bizwire) – POSCO E&C announced on Thursday that it had developed a multi-layer welding automation engineering technology for application in steel bridge construction.

This new process, developed in collaboration with POSCO, allows for precise adjustments of electric current, voltage, welding speed, and type, based on the type and thickness of the steel and the number of welding layers, enabling welding devices to work automatically.

With the new process, non-professional welding technicians can easily perform multi-layer welding on thick steel. Typically, in steel bridge construction, welders are required to directly melt welding rods between small gaps and stack multiple layers of long, thin welding beads, even in narrow or hazardous locations. However, with the application of this newly developed technology, all welders need to do is check if the welding work is progressing as intended.

The welding speed is more than 50 percent faster than that of human welders, and it ensures consistent welding quality even in hard-to-access areas, thus contributing to a reduction in accidents.

Furthermore, the new technology simplifies welding in various structures by reducing the weight of the welding device. The rail on which the device moves is modular, allowing it to be customized to fit the size of the structure.

POSCO E&C applied this technology on a trial basis in the steel tower production process for the Yeongjong-Cheongna connection road (No. 3 Bridge) last month and plans to apply it to the welding of beams and steel posts in the Hwatae-Baekya road construction.

In the future, POSCO E&C plans to introduce and apply laser sensors, AI-driven automatic tracking technology, and welding cameras for various construction projects. Furthermore, the company intends to develop a 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) system and a real-time structure position tracking system for high-precision construction, aiming to improve the quality of construction in steel bridges and high-rise buildings.

Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)