Eight trends in metalworking
Robotics, AI and sustainable steel are shaping manufacturing
In future, metalworking will become increasingly automated, digitalised and focused on sustainability.
The metalworking industry is undergoing change: the industry portal Metals Delivered highlights eight trends that illustrate how new technologies, skills shortages and changes to supply chains are affecting production and procurement:
- Robotic welding: Automated systems are increasingly taking over welding tasks and are expected to improve quality and productivity.
- Precision cutting: Modern cutting processes increase accuracy and reduce the need for post-processing.
- AI-supported quality control: Artificial intelligence helps to detect faults at an early stage and reduce scrap.
- Digital manufacturing processes: Linking Building Information Modelling (BIM) with manufacturing simplifies planning and reduces data transfer errors.
- Prefabrication and modular construction: Steel components prefabricated in factories can shorten assembly times on construction sites.
- Sustainable steel: Low-carbon materials, recycling and environmental product declarations are becoming increasingly important in procurement decisions.
- More resilient supply chains: A broader supplier base and early material procurement are intended to prevent bottlenecks and delays.
- Skills shortage: A lack of qualified workers is increasing the pressure on production processes
