HD Hyundai Robotics has secured its first robotic welding solution contract for the US shipbuilding sector after signing an agreement to supply its ArcLift GO system to multiple shipyards operated by Chouest Group.
The robotic welding systems will be deployed at three Chouest shipyards in North America, including facilities in Louisiana, as well as at one yard in Brazil.
The agreement comes as US shipyards face an increasingly severe shortage of skilled welders, a challenge industry leaders now describe as a structural productivity constraint rather than a temporary labor issue.
HD Hyundai Robotics said its deployment strategy combines technology validation, process optimization and phased implementation, allowing robotic systems to support and replace parts of manual welding work.
Automation is becoming increasingly strategic in the US as policymakers seek to reinforce domestic industrial capacity and supply chain resilience. Proposed measures such as the Robot Security Act are expected to accelerate investment in manufacturing and shipbuilding automation.
ArcLift GO is designed as a ready-to-use robotic welding system capable of delivering consistent weld quality while reducing reliance on highly skilled labor. Its operating software allows users with limited robotics experience to manage multiple units and adapt systems to different work environments and vessel structures.
