AI-assisted welding process: voestalpine Böhler Welding and TU Graz launch research cooperation

voestalpine Böhler Welding and Graz University of Technology are launching a new research project for the AI-supported optimization of welding processes with the “Spark Science Center”. The aim is to replace manual adjustments with intelligent automation - for greater efficiency and consistently better welding results.

6 men and 1 woman in suits stand next to each other and look at the camera — f.l.t.r.. Stefan Glanz, CEO voestalpine Böhler Welding, TU Graz Rector Horst Bischof, City Councilor Günther Riegler, TU Graz Vice Rector for Research Andrea Höglinger, Provincial Councilor Willibald Ehrenhöfer, Franz Kainersdorfer, Member of the Management Board of voestalpine AG and Head of the Metal Engineering Division, Christof Sommitsch, Head of the Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming Technology at TU Graz. Image source: Markus Kaiser

Research partnership with a focus on automation

voestalpine Böhler Welding and the Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming Technology at Graz University of Technology are expanding their long-standing collaboration. The new “Spark Science Center” research project focuses on AI-supported optimization of the welding process. The cooperation was presented at a specialist event with representatives from science, industry and politics. It complements existing collaborations with other institutes at TU Graz, for example in the field of railroad infrastructure.

Machine learning replaces manual corrections

The central aim of the project is to develop intelligent systems that can automatically adjust welding parameters. The systems should independently analyze relevant input variables such as material, filler material, shielding gas or welding process and react to changes in real time. The aim is to replace manual adjustments with machine learning methods in order to ensure consistently high quality and process reliability.

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Impulses from science and industry

The project presentation was opened by TU Graz Rector Horst Bischof. Greetings were given by Provincial Councillor Willibald Ehrenhöfer, City Councillor Günter Riegler, Dean Franz Haas and Franz Kainersdorfer, Member of the Management Board of voestalpine AG and Head of the Metal Engineering Division. In a subsequent panel discussion, experts discussed the importance of AI for future increases in quality and efficiency in industrial welding.

"Research partnerships like this are an important building block for our solution expertise as a technology and steel group. With the new project we are creating the basis for offering our customers even more precise welding results with reduced processing time in the future," says voestalpine AG Management Board member Franz Kainersdorfer.