How Automation Can Ease the Bottleneck: More Than 5,000 Welders Are Missing in Germany – Part 1

Turnkey Robotic Welding Cells for Fast Implementation

For many mid-sized manufacturers, one of the most attractive aspects of the TAWERS platform is the availability of fully integrated turnkey robotic welding cells.

Our partners develop and implement customized automation solutions for welding and material handling applications based on Panasonic technology. Companies receive a complete solution consisting of:

• Robotic systems
• Welding equipment
• Positioners
• Safety concepts
• Software and programming
• Commissioning and operator training

This significantly lowers the barrier to entry into robotic welding. In many cases, existing manual welding processes can be automated step by step without a complete overhaul of production operations.

Even Large Welded Assemblies Can Be Automated

A common misconception is that robotic welding is only economically viable for small parts or high-volume series production. Modern TAWERS installations demonstrate that even large and complex welded structures can be automated successfully.

A recent example comes from plant engineering company STADLER, a manufacturer of recycling and sorting systems that include extremely large welded assemblies. Many of these components had traditionally been welded manually, resulting in long lead times and limited production flexibility.

By implementing multiple TAWERS robotic welding systems, STADLER was able not only to modernize its existing robotic infrastructure but also to automate welding operations that had previously been performed manually.

A key success factor was the ability to process components of varying sizes efficiently. The integrated welding power source, broad range of welding processes, and flexible system architecture enabled significant improvements in productivity and scalability.

This example clearly illustrates that today's robotic welding solutions extend far beyond traditional high-volume manufacturing applications.

Conclusion: Taking Action Against the Skilled Labor Shortage

The shortage of qualified MAG welders will continue to affect German industry for years to come. Companies seeking to safeguard their production capabilities over the long term can no longer ignore automation.

With Panasonic's TAWERS concept, manufacturers gain access to a technology platform that intelligently combines robotic automation and welding process control. When deployed in turnkey robotic cells provided by experienced integration partners, companies can gradually automate manual welding operations, relieve pressure on skilled personnel, and simultaneously improve quality and productivity.

In times of limited labor availability, robotic welding is not merely a technological upgrade—it is a strategic investment in the future of manufacturing.