Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and the Kochi-based SFO Technologies Private Limited have unveiled what is claimed to be the country’s first indigenously designed and manufactured hybrid laser arc welding (HLAW) technology.

The announcement was made at the inauguration of the Advanced Laser Engineering Centre and HLAW R&D facility at NeST Hitek Park, Kalamassery. The facility was inaugurated by Jose V.J., chairman and managing director, CSL, and N. Jehangir, chairman and managing director, SFO Technologies.

Jointly developed by CSL and SFO Technologies, the HLAW system integrates laser welding, conventional arc welding, robotics, and advanced automation, powered by a high-power fibre laser source indigenously developed by SFO Technologies, claimed a communication.

The technology is expected to deliver faster welding speeds, deeper penetration, lower distortion, and improved weld consistency across shipbuilding, defence, heavy engineering, railways, energy, and other strategic manufacturing sectors like large tanks and wagons for improving productivity, claimed the developers in a statement.