CHINA'S ROBOTIC WELDING BOOST PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION

 

To expedite the building of gas and oil pipelines, China has unveiled a new robotic welding and inspection technology that it created internally. A four-robot team has already demonstrated exceptional efficiency in handling pipe widths ranging from 33 to 1,422 millimeters, navigating a variety of terrains, including deserts and steep mountain slopes, and carrying out ultrasonic examination in a totally automated manner, according to a Xinhua story.

Conventional pipeline welding techniques, which are frequently semi-automatic or manual, are time-consuming and prone to uneven quality. The new technique, on the other hand, reportedly reduced the first-pass welding time from seven hours to just one, significantly reducing emissions and material consumption. The technology has already been widely implemented in Africa and the Middle East with the support of industry leaders like Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies.

Photo by Quinten de Graaf / Unsplash

Key to the innovation is the ability to maintain consistent weld quality with solid-core wire, ensuring stronger joints even on 30-degree inclines that once posed a major barrier. Beyond enhancing speed and safety, the robotic crew’s reduced fuel use and carbon emissions also align with growing environmental priorities. The system, developed through 15 targeted research programs, demonstrates a shift from conventional welding approaches to fully autonomous, high-end construction methods.

Source: Globaltimes