India’s first indigenously developed hybrid laser arc welding system has been launched in Kochi by Cochin Shipyard Limited and SFO Technologies, combining laser welding, conventional arc welding, robotics and advanced automation for industrial manufacturing.
The system was unveiled at the inauguration of the Advanced Laser Engineering Centre and the Hybrid Laser Arc Welding research and development facility at the Nest Hi-Tech Park in Kalamassery. Cochin Shipyard chairman and managing director V.J. Jose and SFO Technologies chairman and managing director Dr N. Jahangeer jointly inaugurated the facilities, according to Malayala Manorama.
The hybrid system operates using a high-power fibre laser source developed domestically by SFO Technologies. Its development was undertaken jointly by Cochin Shipyard and SFO Technologies, with the stated objective of applying the technology to sectors where welding speed, structural quality and production consistency are critical.
The companies said the technology could support shipbuilding, defence manufacturing, engineering, railways and energy projects. Other potential applications identified in the announcement include the fabrication of large tanks and railway wagons, although the report did not provide details of specific commercial orders, production targets or deployment timelines.
Hybrid laser arc welding combines the concentrated energy of laser welding with the established capabilities of arc welding. According to the report, the system is expected to provide faster welding, deeper penetration, lower distortion and improved process stability. These characteristics are particularly relevant to large metal structures, where welding performance can affect production time, dimensional accuracy and the consistency of the finished assembly.
For Cochin Shipyard, the development connects an established shipbuilding requirement with domestic industrial technology development. Shipyards and other heavy-manufacturing facilities depend on welding for the assembly of hulls, tanks, structural components and other large fabricated sections. The new system is intended to improve productivity and structural quality in shipbuilding, while also creating a platform for use in other strategic manufacturing sectors.
The launch also places the Advanced Laser Engineering Centre and the new research and development facility at the centre of the initiative. The facilities are expected to support work involving laser engineering, welding systems, robotics and automation, though the announcement did not specify their staffing, investment size, capacity or planned research programmes.
The companies described the development as a step towards reducing dependence on imported equipment and building greater self-reliance in high-end industrial technology. The announcement did not disclose the extent of import substitution expected, the technology’s operating cost, or whether it has already entered routine production use.
The next stage will determine how the system performs when deployed across shipbuilding, defence, railway, energy and heavy-engineering applications. Details on commercial adoption, production-scale installation and measurable productivity gains were not provided in the announcement.
