On the 5th, HD Hyundai said it will introduce its self-developed intelligent welding system at Ingalls Shipbuilding under U.S. defense shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII).
HD Hyundai noted the project is part of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for "improving shipbuilding productivity and cooperating on advanced shipbuilding technologies" signed with Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) at the Sea-Air-Space 2025 exhibition in Washington last year.
The intelligent welding system being introduced at Ingalls Shipbuilding can automatically recognize the workpiece and conditions and correct the welding position in real time.
HD Hyundai said that with the system, after the operator sets only the work area, multiple robots can be managed simultaneously. It also said data generated during the work process are stored in real time, allowing that information to be used for quality control, process improvement, and checking work history. The welding system has been operated at shipyards in the HD Hyundai group, including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Samho.
Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette said, "With this cooperation as a starting point, we will expand the scope of automation deeper into production processes and incorporate the two companies' best practices into the construction of U.S. Navy vessels."
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries President Joo Won-ho said, "This cooperation will further strengthen the partnership between the two companies and serve as an opportunity to expand collaboration," adding, "Through this, we expect to increase efficiency in building naval vessels and provide greater value to customers."
Meanwhile, HD Hyundai is expanding shipbuilding cooperation with the United States in various ways, from maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of naval vessels to research and development and shipyard modernization.
Last month in the United States, HD Hyundai signed a main contract with Germany's Siemens to introduce a "next-generation marine platform" and signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for shipyard modernization with U.S. shipbuilder Fraser Industries to revive the U.S. shipbuilding industry.