Competition heats up to develop welding robots for shipyards

Executives of HD Hyundai Samho, HD Hyundai Robotics and NEURA Robotics announce their partnership during the Automatica 2025 tech fair in Germany in June. From left are Song Young-hoon, vice president of the Solution Development Division at HD Hyundai Robotics; David Reger, CEO of NEURA Robotics; and Ryu Sang-hun, vice president of the Automation Innovation Center Division at HD Hyundai Samho. Courtesy of HD Hyundai Samho

The rivalry between HD Hyundai and Hanwha in shipbuilding has evolved into a race to develop welding robots for shipyards.

Subsidiaries of the two Korean conglomerates are working with international partners to secure technologies that address labor shortages and improve welder safety by reducing the need for work in confined spaces.

Earlier this month, HD Hyundai Samho, a shipbuilder under HD Hyundai, announced a partnership with Germany's NEURA Robotics to develop four-legged and humanoid robots to advance welding automation at shipyards.

Drawing on its experience with collaborative robots and automated equipment, HD Hyundai Samho will test the feasibility of NEURA Robotics’ humanoid technology for shipyard use. HD Hyundai Robotics, a robotics subsidiary, will support the collaboration by leveraging its years of data on automated welding.

“This strategic partnership once again demonstrates the versatility of cognitive robots — even in one of the most demanding industrial environments in the world,” NEURA Robotics CEO David Reger said.

Hanwha Robotics CEO Jung Byung-chan, right, poses with Stijn Festen, manager of process innovation at Royal IHC, after signing a memorandum of understanding during the Automatica 2025 tech fair in Germany, June 27. Courtesy of Hanwha Robotics

On Thursday, Hanwha Robotics said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Royal IHC, a Dutch company specializing in special-purpose ships. The two firms agreed to cooperate on developing automated welding technologies using collaborative robots.

Royal IHC reportedly chose to partner with Hanwha Robotics after seeing the Korean company’s HCR-5W welding robot at the Automatica 2025 tech fair in Germany last month.

“With our advanced robotics technology, which can be applied even in the space-constrained shipbuilding industry, we have established our first collaboration with a Dutch shipyard,” Hanwha Robotics CEO Jung Byung-chan said.