What Nordic Welding Expo 2026 revealed: robotics, laser welding and the future of fabrication

In the welding, robotic integration and manufacturing industries, the conversation is changing. At Nordic Welding Expo’s 20th edition in Tampere, that shift was impossible to miss: we’re moving from planning to implement automation to deploying technologies that can be integrated smoothly as well as survive production challenges such as changing variation, time pressure, mixed materials and the daily grind of getting consistent results.

We heard from some of the leading firms in robotics such as ABB, Yaskawa, Robomatik and Murri about what’s next in welding. Three themes came up: automation and laser welding with a refreshingly practical lens. And, how technology will change the role of the traditional welder.

1) Automation is no longer the question. Integration is the battleground.

Industrial robots are already scaling globally. Per the International Federation of Robotics, 542,000 industrial robots were installed in 2024 worldwide, and annual installations have stayed above 500,000 for four straight years. Admittedly, the consistent theme in conversations across the expo was that while the robot is crucial, the real challenge is integration.  The most prominent issues facing companies are:

• Fixturing and part variation: can the cell tolerate production reality?

• Changeovers and programming time: is it flexible enough for high-mix production?

• Operator adoption: can it be run confidently on the shop floor by welders and not just by specialists?

• Traceability and proof: can one track the welds without creating admin overload?

Kemppi takeaway: Top priorities are repeatable arc performance, sensible parameter control, and tools that make it easier to standardize results across shifts and sites.

That’s why we design welding cells + workflows that tolerate the real production mess: part variation, awkward access, mixed batches, consumable wear. For Kemppi, helping customers turn automation and process choices into repeatable results, backed by traceability with WeldEye and training/services is what makes welding systems scalable.

2) Laser welding is moving from hype to strategy

Laser welding is already becoming a production strategy for manufacturers who chase tighter tolerances, higher throughput, and lower distortion, especially in high-volume environments where small improvements compound quickly.

Of course, arc processes remain the backbone of fabrication because they’re adaptable and more forgiving in the messy realities of gaps, variation, and positional work. Laser, by contrast, tends to win when the joint design and process control support it and where precision and low heat input translate into measurable gains.

Market signals back up that momentum. One major analysis values the laser welding machine market at USD 2.7B in 2024, projecting 5.2% CAGR through 2034, driven by advanced manufacturing needs, especially sectors like automotive, aerospace and medical devices.

3) Skills are still the multiplier

Even with automation rising, the craft isn’t going away, and neither is the need for skilled people. AWS-backed workforce data projects 320,500 new welding professionals needed in the U.S. by 2029, averaging 80,000 jobs to be filled annually by 2029. That shortage is exactly why companies should focus on: making quality repeatable, setups faster, and knowledge transferable across shifts.

The most exciting innovations go beyond new features. They are the things that help skilled welders scale quality so they can implement more stable results across positions and materials, better control the heat input, and get training in workflows that reduce variability and rework.

Kemppi takeaway: Modern welding systems demand disciplined setup, process understanding, and consistent execution. What we aim to solve through our structured training for welders: how quickly a new operator can produce a compliant weld; how consistently a team can follow WPS; how smoothly knowledge transfers across shifts and sites.

What stood out most was a clear north star: predictability. This means building welding systems defined by stable arc performance, intuitive parameter control, and digital workflows that remove friction from quality proof. Kemppi’s role sits right there - bringing equipment, WeldEye traceability, and hands-on support together so repeatable welding becomes repeatable output.