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Przemys\u0142aw Drzyma\u0142a, Director of the VELOWELD Welding Competence Center, and Szymon Habecki, Implementation and Engineering Team Leader, talk about robotic welding, the VELOWELD brand, and its offer for clients.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Przemys\u0142aw Drzyma\u0142a<\/strong>: Yes, we\u2019ve been active in the welding industry for a long time. We’ve been developing robotic welding competences within our team. At first, we operated as a welding competence center. Now, we are a separate business unit within ASTOR, developing this market. We have our own brand.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD<\/strong>: “Weld” obviously refers to welding. And “velox” is Latin for speed, dynamism. We want to be \u201cvelox\u201d. We offer ready-made, almost off-the-shelf solutions, which is quite uncommon in this market.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Szymon Habecki<\/span>:<\/span><\/b> I believe we\u2019re the only supplier in Poland capable of delivering a fully operational robotic welding cell\u2014from receiving the order to igniting the arc\u2014within just two weeks. That\u2019s a major differentiator of VELOWELD.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD:<\/span><\/b> The VELOWELD team focuses exclusively on welding. We wanted a banner we could carry across Poland first, then Europe, and eventually the entire world. That\u2019s how the idea for our own brand came about. We want to highlight our speed and dynamism while building an identity for a team that does only this and specializes in it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD:<\/span><\/b> We produce 35 to 40 welding systems per year, primarily for the Polish market. I think we\u2019re now a significant player. It\u2019s worth noting that we\u2019ve built our position from scratch and grow our market share every year. We\u2019re growing faster than the overall welding market in Poland.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD:<\/span><\/b> We\u2019re seriously thinking about international expansion. We’ve already contracted our first cell for a client in the United States, and it\u2019s currently in production.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD:<\/span><\/b> Our team includes specialists with over 10 years of experience in the welding industry. We have certified welding engineers with International Welding Engineer (IWE) certification. We also have our own design team and on-site assembly crews. Our people handle everything\u2014from designing the station, through construction, to commissioning.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n SH:<\/span><\/b> This year we opened a welding center in Gda\u0144sk, northern Poland and a lab in Krak\u00f3w, southern Poland. At both locations, we conduct welding tests, training for clients, and production of the welding stations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD:<\/span><\/b> With these two locations, we can operate freely throughout Poland and easily reach every client. We\u2019re very open to collaboration at every stage. We do prefabrication in-house, so if a client wants to visit and see the welding cell in progress\u2014they\u2019re welcome. They can come and test it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n SH:<\/span><\/b> Thanks to both assembly-equipped locations, we can produce multiple stations simultaneously\u2014close to our clients. Sometimes, we also produce stations from scratch directly in their facilities. Currently, we\u2019re assembling robotic cells in parallel\u2014two in our Gda\u0144sk production hall and one in our Krak\u00f3w facility.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD:<\/span><\/b> Our cells are modular, like built from blocks. After producing, commissioning, and testing, the cell is disassembled. We design them so they fit easily into a freight container. Then the station is shipped in that container to the client. We also travel there to reassemble the cell on-site.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD:<\/span><\/b> Exactly. The container goes on a ship to the USA, we hop on a plane, and assemble the welding station over there. The location is never a problem. If a client wants the welding cell in Australia\u2014we\u2019ll go to Australia.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD:<\/span><\/b> I\u2019d say our cells are premium. Our client doesn\u2019t get an ugly unit made of cheap corrugated sheet metal. Instead, they receive a well-designed, aesthetic cell with custom branding, personalized software, full process visualization, and data access. We combine traditional robotics with custom software. We care deeply about quality. We deliver a premium product\u2014at a reasonable price. The aesthetic and quality aspects are very important to us.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n SH:<\/span><\/b> Quality is how we want to differentiate ourselves. We produce welding stationsthat clients are proud to show off.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD:<\/span><\/b> Anyone who needs robotic welding. But most of our clients are small and medium-sized companies. We\u2019ve even installed robots in garage-like workshops. Clients appreciate our business model, which adapts to their needs. If a client can do part of the work themselves and only needs specific components\u2014we adjust. We don\u2019t insist they buy everything from us. That also means a limited budget doesn\u2019t have to be a problem. Sometimes clients assume robotic welding is too expensive, but we find a way to make it feasible. We seek different solutions to grow the welding market.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD:<\/span><\/b> We currently have three welding station configurations that Szymon can build with his eyes closed\u2014in two weeks.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n SH:<\/span><\/b> We have a project portfolio that\u2019s 100% repeatable\u2014no need for redesign or rewriting applications. Right now, we\u2019re shipping two such units\u2014one from Gda\u0144sk and one from Krak\u00f3w. They\u2019re truly ready-to-go products.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD:<\/span><\/b> We usually keep two such welding cells in stock. So yes\u2014you can call it an off-the-shelf product.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n SH:<\/span><\/b> The client can buy something that\u2019s already made. No need to wait for custom mechanical and electrical components. They get a ready product capable of producing their parts.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD:<\/span><\/b> Almost that simple. You come in, we run a workshop to demonstrate how everything works. You bring your part and set it up on the cell. We write a welding application for you. In one day, you test the station\u2014touch it, examine it, weld. If you want it, we pack it up the next day, and it can be at your site by day three.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n SH:<\/span><\/b> Of course, the off-the-shelf cell is just one possibility. We can always customize the station\u2014which we love doing. The standard package includes a welding robot with a welder and safety fencing that fits the client\u2019s space. Everything else can be tailored. We can add a welding positioner to adjust part orientation and avoid awkward welding positions. We can select payload, number of axes, work area size. We offer welding tables, protective screens, and a travel rail of specific length. Our control apps are also customizable\u2014like HMI panels with visualization, factory network integration, or ERP data sharing. We configure the welder both in hardware and welding processes. We help clients choose the right technology to get the desired results.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD:<\/span><\/b> Importantly, even fully customized welding cells are delivered fast. In Poland, a typical lead time is about three months. We only need three months when it\u2019s a completely new, complex system. For standard setups, we aim to deliver within one to one and a half months. That\u2019s very fast, but our experience makes it possible.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n SH:<\/span><\/b> Honestly, we\u2019re talking about a handful of typical configurations\u2014there\u2019s not much new to invent. Sure, you can create an insanely customized welding station, but in practice, we work within six or seven setups\u2014adjusting the positioner, type and size of work area, rail vs. stationary robot, HMI panel, or branding. We can also add fume extraction hoods with filter ventilation\u2014also available on request.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n SH:<\/span><\/b> Training is an integral part of every robotic welding station we deliver. We introduce clients to welding technology, teach how to use the equipment properly, and most importantly\u2014how to program welding applications with the robot. The training also includes tech support for welding specific parts. By co-creating applications and selecting welding parameters together, trainees can independently implement new parts in production. This approach brings extra value\u2014reducing both time and costs of automating the welding of new products. If needed, we also assist in designing welding fixtures.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD: It’s a bit like selling cars along with a driving course. Thanks to this, the client can hit the road after just three days \u2013 and manage everything completely independently.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD<\/strong>: We’re able to guide the client through the entire process of needs analysis and identifying what they really require, what configuration will work best for them. Also from an economic perspective \u2013 so they don\u2019t overinvest. We provide all the necessary technical support. It’s very important for us that the client takes over these competencies and develops them internally. We understand that, in the beginning, they need a lot of our time and involvement \u2013 that\u2019s clear. But over time, our role in supporting them decreases, because they are building a team that will handle everything just fine. And what\u2019s important \u2013 they don\u2019t need people with some unimaginable level of skills. All it takes is an open mind and a willingness to learn. We’ve taught people to write welding applications who didn\u2019t even know what the internet was, but they did great because they were eager and open to learning something new. Of course, if someone has knowledge or experience, it\u2019s easier \u2013 but not having a specialist background is not an obstacle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n SH<\/strong>: On the other hand, we\u2019ve produced and delivered about 150 workstations, and only once did a client come to us who knew nothing about welding. The vast majority of our clients already weld \u2013 they do it manually \u2013 and they simply need to improve the process, automate it, increase efficiency or flexibility. That\u2019s when they look for a welding robot.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n PD<\/strong>: It\u2019s also important to note that most of our clients are service companies \u2013 meaning, companies without their own product. Our business model is well suited to their needs. They should have these competencies in-house, be able to quickly write a new application, build a new jig, so that today they can weld a tank, tomorrow a hanger, and the day after a frame. They need an open, flexible machine to be able to produce different components in a short time. And having those competencies \u2013 which we teach them \u2013 allows them to stay competitive in this market.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe VELOWELD brand appeared on the market in 2024, but the topic of robotic welding has been present at ASTOR for many years.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Where does the name VELOWELD come from?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Where does VELOWELD currently stand on the market?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
You said \u201cprimarily for the Polish market.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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You mentioned your welding expertise earlier. Let\u2019s talk about that a bit.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
So you produce a welding cell in Gda\u0144sk or Krak\u00f3w\u2014and then what are the next steps?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
If the welding cell fits in a container, it can be shipped to Wroc\u0142aw\u2014or overseas.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
What makes VELOWELD cells stand out?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Who is your offer primarily aimed at?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
You mentioned having off-the-shelf solutions. What does that mean for welding cells?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
So if I walk in and say \u201cI\u2019d like a welding cell,\u201d is it that simple?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
But a ready-made welding cell is just one option. What if I have specific needs?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Now we come to a crucial element\u2014the training package provided with each cell.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
So your goal is to transfer all the knowledge the client might need.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n