HD Hyundai Robotics has secured an order from Chouest Group for robotic welding systems to be deployed at shipyards in North America and Brazil, the company’s first major entry into the United States shipyard automation market.
The ArcLift GO systems will be supplied to three Chouest Group shipyards in North America, including Louisiana, and one shipyard in Brazil. The technology is designed to address a structural shortage of skilled welders that the company says has constrained productivity across the US shipbuilding sector.
The robotic system utilises intuitive operating software and a plug-in and play concept, which allows operators with limited experience to manage two or three robots simultaneously.
The project is part of a broader strategy linked to the Maritime and Strategic Global Alliance (MASGA) initiative. HD Hyundai Robotics USA, based in Georgia, led the business development and project coordination for the contract.
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the parent company’s shipbuilding holding firm, is also exploring further cooperation opportunities in the US, including the potential joint construction of commercial vessels and the integration of shipbuilding technologies with advanced robotics to support the digital transformation of US shipyards.
