A press conference themed “Shandong’s Excellent Companies on the Industrial Chain,” organized by the Jining Municipal Government Information Office, was successfully held. Tuo Hua, CEO of ROKAE Robotics, along with representatives from three other companies, engaged in in-depth discussions with journalists on the topic of “Jining Building a Highland for Innovative Applications of New Energy Ships.”
Addressing Industry Challenges, Setting a Benchmark in Smart Shipbuilding
From plate cutting and welding to sub-assembly, block assembly, and final docking, the industry consistently faces challenges such as workpiece deformation and welding quality control due to the unique characteristics of shipbuilding processes. As a result, the application of robotics in shipbuilding has long been limited to material handling and welding of small-batch components, failing to achieve broader and deeper implementation.
As a new-generation expert in intelligent robotics, ROKAE Robotics is committed to promoting technological advancement and industrial upgrading, providing high-quality robotic products and solutions across various sectors. In the field of shipbuilding, Shandong New Energy Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. has pioneered a standardized production model for inland vessels, establishing the first demonstration base in China for the R&D, design, and smart manufacturing of new energy ships for inland waterways.
ROKAE Robotics is deeply involved in this transformation of shipbuilding manufacturing. Through strategic collaborations with Jining Energy Group and Shandong New Energy Shipbuilding, ROKAE is advancing the intelligent transformation of new energy ship manufacturing with advanced technologies such as intelligent robotics, breaking through bottlenecks in traditional shipbuilding processes.
Powerful Collaboration Advancing Intelligent Welding Practices in Shipbuilding
Since the collaboration, ROKAE Robotics has dedicated significant R&D efforts to developing smart manufacturing processes for modern shipbuilding. Breakthroughs have been achieved in multiple areas, including automated material handling in storage yards, intelligent cutting and sorting, robotic autonomous grinding post-cutting, as well as automated alignment for small vertical welds and vision-guided intelligent welding. These innovations greatly enhance the intelligence level in traditional shipbuilding.
Meanwhile, leveraging its self-developed new-generation “full-joint force control” flexible welding cobots—known for their compliance, lightweight design, and programming-free operation—the ROKAE team, together with New Energy Shipbuilding, has conducted experiments on robotic welding for sub-assembly, mid-assembly, and dock block assembly welds. The two parties have explored new approaches to digital block construction, overcome multiple technical challenges, and laid a solid foundation for the second-phase project of New Energy Shipbuilding as well as for the intelligent upgrading of the entire industry.
By fully leveraging their respective strengths and tapping into the potential of cooperation, both sides continue to optimize welding processes, expand robotic application scenarios, and revolutionize block construction production models. This integrates intelligent and digital technologies deeply into the entire lifecycle of ship design, construction, and operation.
Looking ahead, ROKAE Robotics will continue to deepen its expertise in shipbuilding. Through close collaboration with industry leaders such as New Energy Shipbuilding, it will promote the transformation of ship welding processes toward automation, intelligence, and digitalization, supporting the shipbuilding industry in moving toward a more efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly future.
