WSO Welcomes a New Team Member: the Welding Robot

We continuously develop and improve our processes to increase efficiency and enhance the quality, precision and repeatability of our products and services. One of the important steps in this direction is the implementation of a welding robot, which we have now integrated into the active production line for freight wagon underframes.

First implementation: crossbeams and head pieces

The robot began its work by welding crossbeams – one of the key structural components of the underframe. After completing the programming phase and a series of tests, we confirmed that it produces welds with very high repeatability and exactly to specification. The next stage was preparing the welding program for the production of the underframe head pieces. After manufacturing the prototypes and successfully completing their quality inspection, we are ready to move into full-scale production.

Quality without compromise

Integrity of welding processes is crucial in the production of railway wagons. Every welding procedure carried out by the robot undergoes a complete qualification process. This includes preparing a 3D model of the component, developing the robot’s program, performing trial welds and conducting detailed laboratory tests. The results are documented in the Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR), which must be approved before series production can begin. This rigorous approach ensures that the robot performs its tasks with exceptional precision, and even achieves quality exceeding industry standards, as confirmed by independent inspectors.

New skills and development within the WSO team

The robot does not replace people – it supports them in repetitive operations, including those requiring high precision. At the same time, the technology requires proper preparation and supervision. As Sławomir Garwacki, Managing Director of WSO, explains: “We recognize our responsibility for enhancing the skills of our employees. Digitalization and automation have reached the workshops, and operating welding robots now requires new competencies. That is why we have invested in training programs to equip our personnel with the necessary knowledge in operation and programming of the robot.”

These newly acquired skills will be applied continuously in order to enable gradual transfer of additional tasks to the robot.
👉 Click to see our new colleague at work: