The Future of Welding: Live Cobot Demo at The Expanded Metal Company

Join Olympus Technologies & Universal Robots for a hands-on Cobot Welding Showcase hosted at The Expanded Metal Company in Hartlepool, where they’ll be demonstrating the power and flexibility of collaborative robot (cobot) welding in a real-world manufacturing environment.

This exclusive event will feature the Olympus Technologies cobot welding system recently installed on-site, showcasing how automation and advanced robotics are transforming welding operations. You’ll also be taken on a guided factory tour of The Expanded Metal Company - a leading manufacturer in the UK - to see how this technology integrates into a live production setting.

The event is delivered in collaboration with Universal Robots, a global leader in collaborative robotics.

A representative from Made Smarter will also be attending the event to discuss the range of support available to manufacturers and how they can help businesses adopt digital and automation technologies.

Made Smarter is a government-backed programme that helps manufacturing businesses boost profits, improve efficiency and grow through digital investment, supported The Expanded Metal Company in purchasing the Olympus Technologies cobot welding system. To learn more about the programme and apply for expert technical advice and grant funding, visit www.madesmarter.uk

Date & Time

Thursday 13th November

Session 1: 9:00 - 10:45

Session 2: 10:45 - 12:30

Session 3: 13:00 - 14:45

Location

The Expanded Metal Company, Stranton Works, Longhill Industrial Estate North, Greatham St, Hartlepool TS25 1PU

Agenda

• Guests arrive
• Networking, coffee & breakfast sandwiches/sandwiches at 13:00
• Introduction to the day & overview presentation
• Factory tour
• Experience live cobot welding in action with a full production system and hands-on demo

Why Attend?

See Cobot Welding in Action: Watch live demonstrations of the installed cobot welding system and discover how it’s being used in a real production environment to improve consistency, quality, and output.

Tour a Leading Manufacturing Facility: Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at The Expanded Metal Company’s operations and how they’ve implemented automation into their processes.

Discover Real-World Benefits: Learn how cobot welding can help solve skilled labour shortages, reduce rework, and improve operational efficiency - without needing to completely reconfigure your production line.

Meet the Experts: Engage with automation specialists, welding engineers, and representatives from Olympus Technologies to ask questions and explore solutions tailored to your business.

Hands-On Learning: Get a feel for just how intuitive cobot programming is, with opportunities to interact with the system in a guided setting.

Plan for the Future: Whether you're new to automation or looking to expand your use of robotics, this event will give you practical insights into how cobots can fit into your strategy.

Who Should Attend?

• Manufacturing Directors & Operations Managers
• Welding Engineers & Fabrication Managers
• Automation Engineers & Technical Leads
• Business Owners & Decision Makers in Manufacturing
• Anyone exploring smart automation or robotics integration

Whether you're looking to boost productivity, overcome labour shortages, or modernise your welding operations, this event will offer the inspiration and information you need.

There are 3 sessions running throughout the day at 9:00, 10:45 & 13:00 so please register for your desired slot. Free parking is available onsite, 100 meters from the entrance.

PPE requirements - Please note you will be required to attend wearing safety boots, hi-viz and safety glasses will be provided.

GDPR - In accordance with applicable data protection laws, your registration details will be shared with our event partners Universal Robots and The Expanded Metal Company, for the purposes of communication and post-event engagement. Each company will process your data in line with their respective privacy policies.