The arc welding industry is now facing significant challenges to remain competitive. Denser regulations (in particular related to health, safety and environmental issues), and the lack of skilled welders call for more mechanised and automated solutions that offer improved quality and productivity and that take into account the impact on the environment.
Weld Galaxy image 1
To take up these challenges, the WeldGalaxy project, funded under the Horizon 2020 European Commission programme brings together a strong consortium led by The Welding Institute (TWI) whose network gathers more than 7000 industrial members. The consortium is made up of 10 partners with complementary expertise: welding technology, engineering knowledge analytics and modelling, web platform development and database management, distributed ledger technology and open call management.
The project intends to help end-users to limit failures and downtime, improve energy efficiency, reducing operation costs and increasing productivity by:
- selecting the right processes and equipment,
- streamlining inventory management,
- enhancing equipment maintenance,
- collaborating with manufacturers to design and test new products meeting their needs.
Such features will be available in the WeldGalaxy platform that will enhance the visibility of European arc welding products in front of global users and provide innovative web-based services.
Reaching arc welding innovations:
In addition to the launch of the platform, the WeldGalaxy initiative will also boost the competitiveness of the European welding industry thanks to its support programme that is being made accessible through two open innovation calls.
Following the first call, 10 innovative pilots have been selected and are now finishing the support programme. The pilots represent a wide range of processes, equipment and products that will disrupt the arc welding industry like:
- Laser-based monitoring that includes defect detection by Cavitar.
- Mobile rebar welding cobot by Rebartek.
- Digital Twinning for welding by Nissatech and EMDIP.
- Automated welding parameterisation by SARKKIS Robotics.
- IR Image monitoring of WAAM process by NIT.
- Image processing with AI by sentin.
- Clean robotic arc welding cell line with minimised shielding gas consumption by Abicor Binzel and Alexander Binzel Schweisstechnik.
- DED universal calibration unit for automatic material calibration by MX3D and the Belgian Welding Institute.
- Intelligent manipulation/fixturing robot by Flex Hex IVS and Factobotics.
The second open innovation call is now open to applications. WeldGalaxy is going to select 15 pilots that will take part in the second edition of an exclusive 6-month support programme which includes:
- Up to €100,000 funding per pilot.
- Technical support provided by industry experts from The Welding Institute (TWI).
- Business Mentoring led by FundingBox.
- A WeldGalaxy platform account.
- Media exposure.
Proposals can be submitted by a single applicant or by a consortium of two or more entities. In any case, proposals must include at least one SME or Mid-Cap.
The pilots applying as a consortium may be composed of a combination of the following types of applicants who are registered either in a European Union country, in an Associated country in Horizon 2020 or the United Kingdom:
- Production equipment suppliers: Manufacturing SMEs or Mid-Caps that provide production equipment, technology and services.
- Technology suppliers and/or System Integrators: SMEs and Midcaps that can offer additional application(s) or service(s) on top of the WeldGalaxy platform.
- End-users: SMEs/MidCaps that use welding as a means of joining materials in a fabrication process.
Interested?
- Get more info and submit your proposal through the application website: https://weldgalaxy-opencall.fundingbox.com/.
- The deadline to apply is 29 April 2021 at 17:00 CEST.
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