Buyer Questions.
Engineering Answers.

The decision is not primarily about budget — it is about production structure. A welding cell is appropriate when the welding challenge is specific and relatively contained: a particular joint type, a defined part family, and a production requirement that can function as a standalone operation.

An integrated line is appropriate when welding is one step in a larger production flow — where material input, welding, and output need to be coordinated across multiple stations, and where the production volume and variant count justify the engineering investment in full-line coordination.

The fastest way to answer this question for your specific situation is through the technical assessment. We will review your part family, production volume, variant count, and current production constraint — and provide a written recommendation with the engineering basis for the scope decision.

Robotic welding is technically applicable across a very wide thickness range — from thin sheet (under 3mm) through to very heavy section plate (80mm and above). However, the engineering requirements change significantly at different thicknesses.

AGR's focus is on thick-section applications — generally 10mm and above — where multi-pass welding, heat input management, distortion control, and inspection requirements create engineering challenges that standard robotic welding approaches do not adequately address. Below 6–8mm, these challenges are largely absent, and a wider range of integrators can deliver adequate results.

The upper practical limit depends on the joint type, material grade, and inspection requirement. For structural applications, AGR has experience with plate up to 100mm. Contact us with your specific section and joint — we will advise on feasibility and the engineering approach required.

AGR is a FANUC-certified robotic welding integrator. FANUC is our primary platform — M-10iD, M-20iD, and R-2000iB series cover the majority of welding cell and integrated line applications.

CLOOS ROMAT systems are used for applications where the CLOOS arc welding controller and seam tracking capabilities are specifically advantageous — typically for complex joint tracking on large structural components. OTC (Daihen) systems have been integrated for specific client specifications.

The robot brand is selected based on the application requirements — reach, payload, and the welding control architecture most suited to the process — not based on resale margin or distributor relationships. We will specify the reason for the platform recommendation in the technical assessment.

Yes — but only if the system is engineered for it from the start. Systems designed for a single primary variant and adapted for others will accumulate changeover time and quality drift that eliminates the throughput benefit of automation.

Multi-variant production requires: modular fixture tooling with engineered changeover sequences, robot programs structured for fast variant selection rather than individual part programs, seam tracking configurations tuned for the actual joint variation across the variant range, and changeover time measured and validated as part of commissioning — not estimated.

Our construction machinery case study demonstrates a system handling 22 product types with changeover under four minutes between variants. This was achieved because multi-variant capability was a design requirement from the start — not an afterthought.

UT and RT acceptance criteria are treated as engineering constraints — not quality targets to be aimed for. This means: the inspection standard is reviewed before process design begins, not after. Heat input limits, root pass geometry requirements, and interpass inspection points derived from the inspection standard are built into the process specification.

AGR requires UT testing of first-run production welds as part of factory acceptance testing. Results are documented and reviewed before the system leaves our facility. If a system cannot demonstrate UT compliance at FAT, it does not ship.

For applications with formal UT or RT acceptance requirements, we will ask for the inspection specification at the assessment stage — not at the handover stage. The process cannot be engineered to meet inspection criteria that haven't been reviewed.

The most common causes of weld quality drift in robotic systems are: consumable wear (contact tip degradation changing arc behaviour), thermal effects on fixture precision (dimensional changes under heat), and seam tracking parameter drift when parts arrive near the edge of the tolerance range the tracking was tuned for.

AGR addresses each of these during system engineering. Consumable wear curves are characterised during process qualification — we define the change interval based on actual quality data, not a default schedule. Fixture precision is validated under thermal steady-state, not at room temperature. Seam tracking is tuned across the full part tolerance range, not just the nominal condition.

If you are experiencing drift in an existing system, the most useful diagnostic is to measure where in the shift or production run the drift begins — this usually isolates the cause. Contact us with details and we can advise.

Yes. Every AGR system is delivered with a welding process specification covering: the WPS (Welding Procedure Specification) for each joint type in the system, parameter ranges for each pass, interpass temperature limits and monitoring method, and consumable specifications.

For applications with formal qualification requirements (ASME, AWS, ISO 15614, or equivalent), we will discuss the qualification scope at the assessment stage. Procedure qualification records (PQRs) are available where required by the delivery specification.

Lead time depends on system complexity and scope. For a standard single-cell system — robot, positioner, fixture, safety enclosure — the typical build and commissioning period is 14–20 weeks from order confirmation.

Integrated multi-station lines are typically 24–36 weeks depending on line length, handling system complexity, and PLC architecture scope. Systems with custom tooling requiring external manufacturing may require additional lead time.

These are guidelines — the specific lead time for your system will be confirmed at the proposal stage based on the confirmed scope. We will not commit a delivery date before the scope is finalised. A delivery commitment made before scope is defined is a guess, not a plan.

AGR's standard FAT includes: full system functional run-through with production parts (or client-supplied samples), weld quality assessment across the part range, seam tracking performance verification across the stated tolerance range, cycle time measurement, safety system verification, and — for inspection-sensitive applications — UT or RT testing of first-run production welds.

Clients are invited to attend the FAT and are provided with documented results. We do not ship a system that has not passed the FAT criteria agreed at the project start. FAT failure means rework — not a conditional shipment.

The FAT specification is agreed during the project engineering phase, not written by us unilaterally at handover. If you have specific FAT requirements, these should be included in the initial project discussion.

Yes — factory visits are actively encouraged for qualified buyers considering a significant system investment. Seeing the facility, the build quality, and the engineering team is a reasonable and expected part of the evaluation process for capital equipment decisions.

Factory visits can be arranged through the technical assessment process. Once we have reviewed your application and confirmed the project is a reasonable fit, we will discuss visit logistics. For international buyers, visit coordination and scheduling can be handled through our regional contacts — Terra Machinery Canada for North American buyers, Aoke Industries Denmark for European buyers.

AGR provides: remote technical support via video call and documentation for process and mechanical issues, spare parts supply with defined lead times for critical items, software and program updates for the robot controller and PLC, and on-site service engineer visits for issues that cannot be resolved remotely.

Support response times and spare parts availability are defined in the project contract — not described verbally and discovered later. The specific support terms are documented in the project proposal.

For international projects, on-site response times are longer than for China-based installations. Remote support covers the majority of operational issues; on-site visits are available for commissioning-related issues and major mechanical failures.

Critical spare parts — welding torches, contact tips, liners, wire drive components, and selected electronic spares — are held at three regional inventory locations: Canada (Terra Machinery, Ontario), Denmark (Aoke Industries ApS), and Japan (through OZU Co., Ltd.). For qualified project clients in these regions, parts are dispatched locally without waiting for shipment from Suzhou.

Beyond AGR's own stock, the major platform components — FANUC, Panasonic, Lincoln Electric, Fronius, and ABICOR BINZEL — all carry international manufacturer warranty and are available through their own global distribution networks independently of AGR. A buyer in North America, Europe, or Japan has direct access to local manufacturer support channels for these components without routing through China.

For projects in other regions, critical spare parts are shipped from Suzhou with air freight for urgent items. Lead times are documented in the project contract.

Yes. All major platform components used in AGR systems carry the original manufacturer's international warranty.

FANUC robots: FANUC's global service network covers warranty claims and support regardless of installation country. AGR's certified integrator status provides direct engineering escalation outside the reseller channel.

Panasonic welding sources: International manufacturer warranty. Authorised Panasonic service and parts available globally.

Lincoln Electric welding sources: Lincoln operates one of the largest global welding service networks. International warranty and local service in most markets.

Fronius welding sources: Fronius maintains local service partners across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

ABICOR BINZEL torches and cleaners: BINZEL consumables and replacement parts available through the global BINZEL distribution network in most markets where AGR deploys systems.

The standard warranty period is 12 months from commissioning acceptance. Warranty covers: mechanical defects in AGR-supplied components, software bugs in AGR-developed PLC and robot programs, and fixture dimensional non-conformance identified within the warranty period.

Warranty does not cover: normal consumable wear (contact tips, wire, gas), damage from operator misuse or unauthorised modification, third-party component failures (robot controller, welding source) which are covered under those manufacturers' own international warranty terms.

Extended warranty is available — discuss at the proposal stage.

Production requirements change. Part dimensions change. New variants are added. AGR supports system modifications after delivery — robot program updates, fixture modifications, additional part programs, and PLC logic changes.

Modification requests must go through a review process before implementation. Unauthorised modification of robot programs or PLC logic is the most common cause of post-delivery quality problems — and the most difficult to diagnose remotely. Our support terms require AGR authorisation for any software or hardware changes to maintain warranty coverage.

Contact your project engineer or the relevant regional contact (Terra Machinery for North America, Aoke Industries for Europe, OZU for Japan) to initiate a modification request.

A meaningful quotation requires: part drawings or 3D models (or at minimum, accurate part dimensions and weights), material specification, weld joint details (position, access, section), inspection requirements, production volume and variant count, and available floor space dimensions.

We do not quote from verbal descriptions or photographs of existing parts. The information needed to engineer the right system is the same information needed to price it — and a price produced without that information is not a quotation, it is a guess with a number attached.

The technical assessment stage collects this information systematically. Once we have it, the quotation is produced with a defined scope, a delivery timeline, and the engineering basis for the system recommendation.

Standard payment terms for international projects are: 30% with order confirmation, 40% at factory acceptance test completion, 30% at site acceptance. Terms are documented in the project contract and are not subject to post-order revision.

Payment is typically via TT (bank transfer). Letter of credit arrangements are available for clients who require them — discuss at the proposal stage as LC arrangements affect project scheduling.

Currency: USD or RMB for standard projects. EUR arrangements are available for European projects coordinated through Aoke Industries Denmark. Discuss currency preference at the assessment stage.

Yes — AGR delivers internationally. Systems have been delivered to North America, Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia. International delivery is a standard part of AGR's project scope, not an exceptional arrangement.

Export documentation, customs HS codes, and export compliance are handled by AGR as part of the project scope. The client is responsible for import clearance in the destination country — we will provide all required documentation (packing lists, commercial invoice, certificate of origin, technical documents).

Logistics coordination for North American projects is supported through Terra Machinery Canada. European logistics is supported through Aoke Industries Denmark. For Japan, logistics coordination is available through OZU Co., Ltd. We recommend discussing logistics arrangements during the project proposal stage — not after order confirmation.