Robot Welding and the Skills Shortage: A Practical Answer for UK Fabricators

For years, the conversation around welding in the UK has been the same: too much demand, not enough welders. The British Chambers of Commerce and MAKE UK have both highlighted how skills shortages are slowing output across the sector. 

For fabrication shops, that usually means tough choices, either turn work away, or stretch your welders thinner and risk quality slipping.

This is where robot welding has shifted from a “nice-to-have” to a lifeline. Systems like Yaskawa’s ArcWorld and Weld4ME give workshops a way to keep pace with orders while making better use of the welders they already have.

Why Skilled Welders Still Matter

It’s not about replacing people. Manual welders are still essential for complex joints, prototype work, and tasks that need a human eye. 

But spending their time on simple brackets, short fillet runs, or repetitive seams isn’t the best use of their skills. 

That’s where a robot cell comes in: it can take on the repetitive tasks consistently, freeing welders to focus on the jobs only they can do.

How ArcWorld Tackles the Shortfall

ArcWorld is a pre-engineered robot welding cell that includes everything: the robot, power source, safety guarding, fume extraction, and controller. 

With options like twin-table setups, it keeps arc-on time high, even in short-run production. For shops struggling to meet deadlines, that means predictable output without chasing extra hands.

Where Weld4ME Fits

For workshops that aren’t ready for a full cell, Weld4ME, the collaborative welding robot, is a gentler first step. 

It’s safe to use around people, can be moved between stations, and is programmed using Yaskawa’s Smart Pendant, which welders can pick up quickly. It doesn’t replace the workforce; it supports them.

A Real-World Shift

One UK fabricator recently adopted a compact ArcWorld system after months of trying (and failing) to hire additional welders. 

Within weeks, they were running repeat jobs through the cell, doubling their output without increasing headcount.

Their existing welders now focus on higher-value work, and customer delivery times have stabilised.

The Bottom Line

The welding labour shortage isn’t going away. But that doesn’t mean UK manufacturers are stuck.

By combining skilled welders with the repeatable, consistent output of robot welding systems, businesses can meet demand, protect quality, and stay competitive.

Want to learn more? Start with Yaskawa’s ArcWorld or Weld4ME to explore what could work in your workshop.