Shipyard Cutting and Gouging Solutions

Why Shipyards Are Modernizing Now

Global competition, aging processes, and labor shortages are reshaping how ships get built. Leading yards are moving away from legacy methods—oxyfuel, carbon‑arc gouging, heavy grinding—and toward modern technologies that:

• Reduce distortion and rework with cleaner, more consistent cut edges

• Lower operating costs via faster cutting and longer consumable life

• Improve safety by eliminating or reducing flammable gases and reducing fumes, noise, and manual grinding

• Offset skilled‑labor shortages with intuitive systems and automation‑ready platforms

Technologies That Transform Workflow

Our technologies don’t just replace outdated tools; they transform the workflow around them.

Cut cleaner, faster, and with less rework

Advanced plasma systems deliver high‑speed, high‑precision cutting and gouging with dramatically reduced heat input—meaning less distortion, fewer secondary operations, and faster welding.

Automate where it matters most

From robotic bevel cutting to cobot‑assisted trimming to semi‑automated gouging, our systems integrate seamlessly with tractors, robots, cobots, and CNC platforms to reduce manual labor and increase consistency.

Expand capability across every material

Plasma and waterjet solutions handle mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, composites, layered structures, and painted or rusted metal—giving shipyards greater flexibility with fewer tools.

Improve safety and ergonomics

Eliminate oxyacetylene, reduce grinding, and distance operators from hazards with automation‑ready torches, long‑reach tools, and cleaner cutting processes.

Transform Shipyard Fabrication

As fabrication grows more complex and global competition intensifies, shipbuilders face labor shortages and aging production methods. Leading shipyards are modernizing cutting, gouging, and beveling with advanced plasma cutting solutions—and increasingly exploring waterjet for new precision‑driven applications.

To stay competitive, shipyards are replacing outdated methods with advanced technologies, including advanced plasma and waterjet solutions that deliver higher precision, faster throughput, and lower operating costs across every stage of construction and repair.

Download our exclusive shipping guide and discover how to modernize cutting, gouging, and beveling for better weld prep.

Solutions Across the Shipyard Value Stream

Our technologies support every phase of fabrication and repair—delivering safer, higher quality cuts and gouges for more efficient welding, tighter fit ups, and more predictable performance.

Cutting and pipe shops

Boost throughput with high‑accuracy beveling, robotic 3D cutting, and automated nesting workflows that reduce scrap and rework. Waterjet cutting is increasingly used for prototyping and specialty low-volume parts, offering new opportunities for cleaner, distortion-free edges.

Yard area

Replace oxyfuel and carbon‑arc with high‑speed plasma cutting and gouging for cleaner surfaces, less distortion, and safer operation with less grinding.

Drydock

Speed attachment removal and weld prep with FlushCut™ consumables and high‑amperage gouging that minimize grinding and protect base metal.

Dock and repair

Perform fast, precise hull access cuts and weld removal with portable plasma systems that deliver clean openings and safer, more controlled repairs.

Technologies That Move Shipyards Forward

We deliver innovations that directly impact shipyard performance:

• High‑amperage mixed‑gas gouging for fast, clean metal removal

• Single‑piece cartridges deliver higher output and cut quality, while reducing cost

• Proven cut settings across tables, pipe/tube machines, robots, and cobots

• Arc‑bending FlushCut™ technology cuts lifting lugs up to 90% faster and reduces grinding time by up to 40% compared to oxyfuel