Building Construction

Meeting the Needs of Mechanical Contractors

The SWR™ is designed to meet the specific needs of mechanical contracting. Whether it’s projects involving critical infrastructure like hospitals or advanced technology facilities like semiconductor plants, precision and reliability are essential. The SWR™ delivers on these needs by automating the welding process, which not only helps to overcome the shortage of skilled welders but also ensures that every joint in piping meets the highest industry standards, such as those required for ASME B31.1 and ASME B31.3 compliance.

Increasing Productivity and Competitiveness

In an industry where competition for prefabrication is intensifying, the SWR™ offers a significant competitive edge. Over the past 15 years, prefabrication has grown from 15-20%, with shops increasingly looking for ways to capture more market share. The SWR™ enables mechanical contractors to increase their pipe welding productivity by 3-5 times for carbon steel pipes, achieving 200-350 diameter inches per shift. For stainless steel pipes, the productivity boost can be as high as 12 times, with 569-998 diameter inches per shift. This significant increase in productivity allows contractors to complete projects faster, lower costs, and improve delivery timelines, helping them to win more projects and increase margins on those they have already secured.

Reducing Repair Rates and Costs

Welding defects and the need for repairs can be costly and time-consuming, with repair costs typically ranging between $800-$1,000 per weld. The SWR™ addresses this issue by significantly lowering repair rates to less than 1%, compared to the industry average of 3-5%. For example, a fabrication shop producing 6,000 welds per year could save up to $180,000 annually by reducing repair rates. This reduction in repairs not only improves the bottom line but also enhances the reliability and quality of the final product, ensuring the structural integrity of critical systems.

Flexibility and Integration

The SWR™ offers flexibility for various welding tasks, including the ability to weld slip-on flanges with the SWR-F option. This flexibility is crucial for mechanical contractors who need to adapt to different project requirements. Additionally, the SWR™ integrates seamlessly with STRATUS and PypeServer, further streamlining the construction process. This integration enables contractors to optimize their fabrication workflows, reduce lead times, and maintain a high level of precision throughout the project lifecycle.

Combatting the Skilled Labor Shortage

The mechanical contracting industry is facing a welder shortage crisis, with the average age of welders in the United States being 55 years old and a predicted shortage of 314,000 welders by 2024. The SWR™ helps to mitigate this issue by working with less experienced operators to produce high-quality welds consistently. As a collaborative robot (cobot), the SWR™ enhances shop productivity and allows contractors to maintain high standards even with a limited pool of skilled labor.