HD Hyundai Targets U.S. Shipyards With Welding Robots to Ease Labor Shortages

HD Hyundai Robotics’ promotional image for FABTECH 2026. (HD Hyundai Robotics) HD Hyundai is turning to robotics to help address the chronic labor shortage in the U.S. shipbuilding industry. HD Hyundai Robotics, the group’s robotics affiliate, will participate in FABTECH 2026, North America’s largest exhibition for metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing, from Oct. 21 to 23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The company plans to showcase a range of robotic welding solutions designed specifically for shipyards. The centerpiece of the exhibition will be two mobile welding robots, ArcLift GO and ArcLift SLIDE. Built on collaborative robot platforms, the systems are designed to operate in the confined spaces commonly found in shipyards. Workers can move the units manually, and multiple robots can be operated simultaneously. Having already undergone performance validation at HD Hyundai-affiliated shipyards, the systems target demand for modernization at U.S. shipyards struggling to recruit skilled welders. Beyond hardware, the company will also present intelligent automation technologies. ArcPak uses 3D scanning to recognize the geometry of structural components and automatically generate welding paths. ArcAdapt IQ uses artificial intelligence to monitor weld quality in real time and adjust welding parameters, including current and voltage. HD Hyundai Robotics plans to conduct live demonstrations throughout the exhibition as it steps up sales efforts in the U.S. market. The company has already secured its first order in the North American shipbuilding sector. In May, HD Hyundai Robotics signed a supply agreement with U.S.-based Chouest Group for ArcLift GO. The systems are scheduled for deployment at three shipyards in North America, including one in Louisiana, and one shipyard in Brazil. The deal aligns with HD Hyundai’s broader strategy of strengthening technology partnerships with U.S. industry players, including Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), a major U.S. naval shipbuilder. In South Korea, HD Hyundai Robotics is also moving to expand into the humanoid robot market. At the Future Innovation Technology Expo 2026 (FIX 2026), which opens on Oct. 21 at EXCO in Daegu, the company will unveil a prototype of its self-developed dual-arm robot for the first time. The robot consists of an upper body without a lower body and is intended for future use on production lines, including those assembling robot controllers. The company aims to build its humanoid robotics capabilities in stages, starting with the prototype’s debut. The robotics push is a key pillar of HD Hyundai’s Future Advanced Shipyard (FOS) project. The company aims to apply digital twins, AI and robotics across shipyard operations by 2030, increasing productivity by 30% and reducing shipbuilding time by 30%. To support this effort, HD Hyundai is expanding partnerships with global technology companies. These include joint development of a welding humanoid with U.S.-based Persona AI and cooperation with Germany’s Neura Robotics on four-legged robots. Industry attention is also focused on whether HD Hyundai will acquire a shipyard in the United States. The company has been exploring options for establishing a local shipbuilding presence, including a potential acquisition. HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun has said the company is considering several options, but no specific deal has been confirmed. Any claim that a majority stake in a U.S. shipyard is legally required for naval shipbuilding should be verified against the relevant regulations before publication. Technological maturity also remains a key challenge. Shipyard conditions change frequently, and large equipment operates alongside workers, making safe robot mobility and precise welding essential. HD Hyundai recently invested about 13 billion won, or approximately $9.6 million, in AIDIN Robotics, a specialist in robotic sensing technology, to strengthen its capabilities in robotic hands for precision work. The company is also expanding automation into polishing and grinding as it works to overcome technical limitations and broaden the range of shipyard tasks that robots can perform.