Australia’s welding and metal fabrication industry is under significant pressure. Rising demand from defence, mining, infrastructure and renewable energy projects has created more work than the local workforce can handle.

According to Weld Australia, the country needs an additional 70,000 welders by 2030, while Jobs & Skills Australia continues to list welding on the national skills shortage list.

In response, fabrication businesses are increasingly turning to collaborative welding robots, or cobot welders, to enhance productivity, maintain high-quality standards, and address labour shortages.

What Are Collaborative Welding Robots?

A cobot welder is a robotic welding system designed to operate safely alongside human operators. Unlike traditional industrial robots, cobots do not require safety cages or extensive programming knowledge. 

They are compact, user-friendly, and ideal for medium-volume batch production, which is common in Australian fabrication workshops.

"A cobot welder is a robotic welding system designed to operate safely alongside human operators."

Suppliers such as Orbimax provide turnkey solutions that combine a collaborative robotic arm, MIG or TIG welding power source, and intuitive programming interfaces.

Operators can teach the cobot by guiding it through the weld path or using simple software, allowing even small workshops to adopt robotic welding without hiring specialist engineers.

Why Cobot Welding Makes Sense for Australian Fabricators

For Australian fabrication and manufacturing businesses, cobot welding solves three critical problems:

1. Skilled Labour Shortages

With experienced welders retiring and apprenticeships not keeping up with demand, labour constraints are slowing production nationwide. Cobot welders allow workshops to increase output with the team they already have, freeing skilled welders for complex work while repetitive welds are automated.

2. Cost Pressure and Productivity

Margins in fabrication are tighter than ever. Cobot welding improves throughput and consistency, reducing rework and material waste. Many Australian businesses report significant efficiency gains even within the first month of deployment.

3. Quality, Consistency

Cobots are used in industries like defence, mining, transport, agriculture and structural steel, where weld quality and compliance is essential. Cobots adhere to AS/NZS welding standards and their suitability for repetitive tasks allows workers to focus on more important tasks.

Industry Examples

Example 1

A stainless steel fabricator in QLD who was supplying the food processing industry struggled with rework due to inconsistent weld quality. After implementing a MIG cobot welding system, they reduced rework by 40%, cut delivery times and improved hygiene compliance.

Example 2

A regional structural fabrication workshop in NSW couldn’t meet demand due to hiring struggles. By using a cobot on repetitive bracket assemblies, it doubled production output within six weeks without hiring additional welders.

Example 3

A mining services supplier in WA used a cobot to automate wear plate fabrication. Welding cycle times dropped by 30%, and the shop avoided costly FIFO hiring while meeting contract deadlines.

Workforce Integration and Training

Contrary to common fears, cobots do not replace welders; they enhance their capabilities. Less experienced operators can manage cobot cells after just a few days of training, while senior welders transition to programming, quality assurance, and process optimisation roles.

Australian TAFE programs and industry apprenticeships are increasingly integrating automation modules to prepare the next generation of welders to work alongside robotic technology, ensuring cobots complement rather than replace human labour.

Financial Benefits and ROI

For small and medium fabrication shops, cobot welding is cost-effective. Compared to traditional robotic welding, cobots require lower upfront investment, can be installed quickly, and often achieve ROI within 6–18 months.

Additional benefits include reduced rework, lower scrap rates, improved weld quality, and the ability to confidently quote more jobs.

Suppliers like Orbimax offer financing options and on-site support, making cobots accessible for regional and family-owned workshops.

Considerations for Implementation

Successful cobot deployment requires careful planning. Businesses should assess part suitability, as cobots perform best on repeatable welds, and ensure accurate fixture design for consistency.

Workflow integration, material handling, and adherence to safety standards are essential to fully realise productivity gains. When implemented thoughtfully, cobots become long-term assets that improve efficiency and consistency across the workshop.

The Future of Welding in Australia

Collaborative welding robots are transforming how Australian fabrication shops operate. They help businesses maintain competitiveness despite labour shortages, rising demand, and cost pressures, while preserving local skilled employment.

By integrating cobots, workshops can scale productivity, improve consistency, and retain skilled welders, illustrating that the future of welding in Australia is not about replacing humans but enabling human-robot collaboration.

Written By Brandon Arnot, Orbimax Sales Manager

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