Victorian welder picks Novarc Technologies Spool Welding Robot
Established in Mordialloc, Victoria, Lepol Metal has been a cornerstone supplier for the construction industry for over 45 years. Lepol specialises in offsite steel manufacturing, metal work, piping systems, stainless services, prefabrication, and on-site support for the mechanical services industry. Their commitment to delivering efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality customised solutions has streamlined construction processes across various commercial, industrial, and critical infrastructure sectors.
Navigating operational challenges
But given the pace of their growth, the difficulties of expanding a skilled workforce, and the industry’s ever-increasing demands for more consistent, high-quality welds within shorter time frames, Lepol began a search for an innovative solution that would satisfy these market demands while operating within a limited physical footprint.
Enhancing Lepol’s mechanical service capabilities, particularly in pipe welding, required evaluating several options. Lepol Metal chose the Spool Welding Robot (SWR) from Novarc Technologies. Its compact design allowed for tremendous spatial flexibility. The SWR’s ability to consistently deliver high-quality welds resulted in a sizable increase in welding efficiency. The SWR’s seamless integration into Lepol’s operations marked a transformative step towards heightened productivity and efficiency.
Quantifiable results
“Integrating Novarc’s SWR has yielded a significant increase in daily welding output, substantial financial savings and high-quality, consistent welds. It has also mitigated the skilled labour shortages and enhanced operational capacity,” said Luke Gordes, owner of Lepol Metal.
Increased productivity
Before implementing the SWR, Lepol averaged between 50 to 60 weld inches daily. They now achieve, on average, between 250 to 300 weld inches per day. Gordes added, “On a particularly productive day, we’ve reached up to 351 weld inches,” representing a 400 – 500% increase in daily welding output. “Lepol can now complete projects in a fraction of the time compared to what we achieved before the SWR.”
The SWR’s user-friendly interface has also helped reduce the impact of a skilled labour shortage. Lepol employed an 18-year-old operator with no welding experience who quickly mastered the SWR. The previous reliance on skilled welders was reduced through the user-friendly SWR interface. Within a short training period, the SWR operator can perform at a level previously unattainable by manual welding.
Enhanced operational capacity
The Novarc Spool Welding Robot has enabled Lepol to take on a significantly higher volume of work without increasing the size of its workforce. Roughly 75% of Lepol’s pipe welding is now completed using the SWR, considerably increasing their operational capacity. Lepol can now take on larger projects, offering clients shorter completion times with consistently high-quality welds. Those capabilities have directly contributed to increased business opportunities and revenue.
Lepol Metals has leveraged cutting-edge technology to establish new industry standards. Its commitment to delivering high-quality, customised solutions has reinforced its reputation as an innovative leader in its field. The integration of the Novarc SWR has allowed Lepol to establish a new benchmark for efficiency and quality in the mechanical services industry.