How fabricators are solving the welding labor shortage with robotic welding

Serru, a structural steel manufacturer based in the southern Mayenne region of France, operates in a market where recruiting skilled labor is exceptionally difficult. With very low regional unemployment, the company faced ongoing challenges in hiring across both shop floor and technical roles.

To address this, Serru implemented AGT’s BeamMaster system. The goal was not to replace existing employees, but to compensate for positions that could not be filled.

After 18 months, the results have been significant. The robotic system delivers output equivalent to five to six full-time welders, effectively acting as a force multiplier for the existing team.

This shift also reshaped shop floor operations. By automating long, repetitive welds, Serru enabled its welders to focus on higher-value tasks such as fitting and assembly. The robot can also run extended shifts into the night with no supervision, adding production hours without adding night-shift labor costs.

For SCAM, a family-owned fabrication company, the welding labor shortage created a different kind of constraint. Rather than limiting hiring alone, it prevented the company from reaching higher production levels.

High-welding-volume parts were slowing down the entire workflow, creating bottlenecks that disrupted efficiency and reduced throughput. Without additional welders, scaling production was not feasible.

AGT’s BeamMaster system gave SCAM the opening it needed. Its built-in SnapCam technology can detect welds in just 3 to 5 seconds, significantly faster than traditional laser-based solutions.

BeamMaster’s Cortex software also lets SCAM simulate parts before production, helping the team identify which components are best suited for robotic welding and optimize production planning accordingly.

The result is a faster, more predictable workflow that maximizes the capabilities of both human operators and robotic systems.

Steelway Building Systems, located in Elmer, Ontario, highlights another critical dimension of the welding labor shortage: geography. Recruiting skilled welders in rural areas is particularly challenging, limiting the company’s ability to expand its workforce.

Instead of relying solely on hiring, Steelway invested in AGT’s BeamMaster system to increase its production capabilities.

With this acquisition, the company moved from a process that welded only one side of a beam to a fully automated solution capable of welding all four sides. This advancement significantly improves both efficiency and weld consistency.

The impact extends beyond productivity. The system is easier to learn than traditional welding processes, reducing training time and making it easier to onboard new operators. Meanwhile, experienced welders can shift their focus to higher-skill tasks such as finishing, inspection, and repairs.

Due to the system’s performance, Steelway expanded its setup by adding a second robot, further optimizing production, especially for large structural components like 60-foot beams.

Across these three cases, a clear pattern emerges. Robotic welding directly addresses one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: an ongoing shortage of skilled welders.

Fabricators adopting robotic beam welding are able to:

• Compensate for ongoing skilled labor shortages
• Increase throughput without expanding headcount
• Improve weld quality and consistency
• Optimize workforce roles and productivity
• Scale operations with greater predictability