C2I 2022: Manufacturing Technology shortlist

Funded by the European Commission and involving thirteen project partners from nine European countries, the RESURGAM project is developing a pioneering underwater welding robot that could be used to repair damaged ship hulls out at sea. 

Claimed to be the first of its kind, the remotely-operated Friction Stir Welding (FSW) robot is now at an advanced stage after a concept design for the system was finalised. A first concept design for both the welding head and the frame mechanics has been completed and is currently being developed further.

The project is led by Cumbria’s Forth Engineering, which has drawn on its previous experience producing a range of bespoke FSW tools for hazardous environments such as the FSWBot, a pioneering robotic crawler which can be operated from a remote distance and has been devised for internal repair and refurbishment of oil pipelines.

One of the key innovations has been the development of an electromagnetic system for securing the weld head to a ship’s hull. The tool will shortly be trialled in Forth Engineering’s Deep Test Pond, which is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the UK.
The team claims that the device, which is expected to be available to industry in 2023, will save the marine sector millions of pounds each year.