HD Hyundai brings welding automation to Huntington Ingalls

HD Hyundai introduced its proprietary advanced welding technology at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Huntington Ingalls Industries' surface combatant facility in Mississippi, as part of a pilot project to digitize operations and boost productivity there.

The U.S. shipbuilder has already begun adopting the system since July, according to HD Hyundai on Wednesday.

The project stems from a memorandum of understanding the two companies signed at Sea Air Space 2025, a naval, aviation and space exhibition held in Washington last year, under which they agreed to cooperate on improving shipbuilding productivity and advancing shipbuilding technology.

The welding system was developed to make welding work safer and more efficient. It automatically recognizes the work target and conditions and corrects welding positions in real time, shifting workers from hands-on welders to supervisors to oversee multiple robots at once, and step in only when needed. Data collected during the welding process is stored in real time and used for quality control, process improvement and tracking work history.

The system has already been tested at HD Hyundai's shipyards, including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Samho.

This marks the start of a broader cooperation agreement covering the full range of shipbuilding operations, including the construction of digital shipyards through process automation and the adoption of robotics and AI; improved production efficiency by combining the two companies' expertise in warship construction; and workforce training and supply chain participation.

"The partnership will strengthen further and expand, improving the efficiency of warship construction and delivering greater value to customers," said Joo Won-ho, president of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. 

HD Hyundai has been broadening its shipbuilding cooperation with the United States across multiple fronts, from vessel maintenance and research and development to shipyard modernization. In July, the company signed a formal contract with Siemens in the United States to introduce a next-generation marine platform, and separately signed an MOU with Frazer Industries on modernizing shipyards as part of efforts to revive the U.S. shipbuilding industry.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]