Cochin Shipyard and SFO Develop India’s First Hybrid Laser Welding System
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and SFO Technologies, the flagship company of the NeST Group, have jointly developed what they describe as India’s first indigenously designed and built Hybrid Laser Arc Welding (HLAW) system. It was unveiled on 11 November at the opening of a new Advanced Laser Engineering Centre and HLAW research facility at NeST Hitek Park in Kalamassery, an industrial area near Kochi in Kerala.
The HLAW system combines laser welding with conventional arc welding, robotics and automation. It is powered by a high-power fibre laser source developed in-house by SFO Technologies. According to the companies, it is designed to give faster welding, deeper penetration, less distortion and more consistent welds than conventional methods, though no technical figures have been released yet.
From the CrewMirror Blog
The centre was inaugurated by CSL Chairman and Managing Director Jose V. J. and SFO Technologies Chairman and Managing Director N. Jehangir. It will carry out research, testing, validation and commercial use of laser technologies. Besides shipbuilding, the system is aimed at defence, railways, heavy engineering and energy.
Welding is central to ship construction, so faster and more precise welding can raise productivity at Indian yards. The development supports India’s push for home-grown shipbuilding technology, at a time when Indian shipyards are delivering vessels with high indigenous content and Indian cargo owners are looking at building ships in India.
CrewMirror Takeaway
Stronger home-grown shipbuilding technology can help Indian yards build more ships at competitive cost, which in turn can create more berths and career openings for Indian seafarers on Indian-built and Indian-owned tonnage.
