Caroline Heerema has officially opened the Heerema Innovation Centre.
This centre is located near the headquarters of Heerema Fabrication Group (HFG) in Zwijndrecht and symbolises the course that HFG wants to sail: working even faster and more efficiently in order to be and remain the leading engineering and fabrication contractor for complex offshore structures.
Welding Robot
Through the centre, Heerema hopes to be able to offer added value to its clients as well as retain young engineers. The first project of the Heerema Innovation Centre is the welding robot, which has been developed by Valk Welding together with HFG. The robot does not replace welders but complements them. A welding robot will also be installed in the company's training school where welders will learn to work with it.
Welders are almost always in short supply. The welding robot enables them to concentrate on the more challenging tasks, while the welding robot can be used for other work. The first welding robot has two welding arms and operates very precisely. The device weighs 50 tons, but it is unable to climb, which will be the next challenge for the Innovation Centre where more welding robots will be developed.
At the Centre, Heerema will also focus on using the latest 3D and gaming technology and smart data processing.
Innovation Centre
The modern Innovation Centre was designed by the architects of BBA Architecten. In the centre, more than 1000 m2 are dedicated to test rigs and training purposes. Everything that is new will be developed at the Innovation Centre. It will also play a role in sharing knowledge by establishing and maintaining links with institutes of technology and universities of applied sciences.
