B.C.’s Innovation in Intelligent Welding

British Columbia (B.C.) is emerging as a national hub for artificial intelligence (AI), with its rapidly growing AI sector driving innovation, attracting global talent and transforming industries such as manufacturing, healthcare and cleantech. Among the companies harnessing AI to modernize traditional sectors is Novarc Technologies (Novarc), a standout in advanced welding automation.

A Pioneer in Robotic Welding

Based in Burnaby, B.C., Novarc Technologies is a robotics company specializing in the design and manufacturing of collaborative robots (cobots) and AI-powered machine vision systems for autonomous welding. Since its founding in 2013, the company has led innovation in pipe welding automation with the development and commercialization of the world’s first collaborative welding robot.

Novarc’s early work focused on close collaboration with customers in Alberta’s oil and gas sector to provide solutions for dangerous welds. These partnerships gave the company deep insight into industry-specific challenges and production workflows—knowledge that directly informed the creation of the Spool Welding Robot (SWR), a purpose-built cobot that significantly increased productivity and achieved consistently high-quality welds.

Today, Novarc is a globally recognized leader in automated welding. With over 150 SWRs deployed across fabrication shops worldwide, its technology is helping industries such as oil and gas, shipbuilding, construction and manufacturing address skilled labour shortages while improving weld quality and operational efficiency.

“Novarc’s global expansion has been driven by providing timely solutions to industries such as oil & gas, mining, construction, and shipbuilding, where automation is essential to meet demand. With infrastructure laws increasing the need for welding services amid a shortage of more than 330,000 welders in the U.S. this year, our collaborative robots and AI-powered computer vision solutions are helping fabricators bridge the gap. Our spool welding robot works alongside human operators to boost productivity, weld quality, and consistency—enabling junior welders to perform work that previously required senior-level expertise. Because our clients often see a return on investment within six to 18 months, the value proposition of our technology has made it a key driver of our growth and diversification globally.”

– Soroush Karimzadeh, CEO & Co-Founder

A key driver of Novarc’s continued innovation is its AI-powered system NovAI™, which enhances the welding process with machine intelligence. Built on years of real-world deployment, NovAI™ allows robots to weld with the precision of seasoned professionals, improving weld quality, reducing waste and increasing automation in even the most complex welding tasks. The system also provides users with greater visibility and control, enabling more reliable and efficient performance.

Novarc’s automation systems also improve workplace safety by minimizing human exposure to welding hazards. Instead of working directly at the arc—where heat, fumes, and sparks are most intense—operators can oversee the process from a safer distance. This reduces health risks and creates a cleaner, safer environment on the shop floor.

Equally important, Novarc’s cobots are built to complement rather than replace human welders. By embedding expert knowledge into the system, even junior welders can produce work that meets the standards of seasoned professionals. This helps companies retain experienced tradespeople while making the field more attractive to the next generation of workers. It also opens new opportunities for technicians, programmers and engineers to contribute to the evolving manufacturing industry.

Since launching its flagship SWR in 2016, Novarc has expanded its sales and support network across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and most recently, Australia. Its momentum has been strong, with SWR sales doubling during the pandemic and revenue nearly doubling again between 2022 and 2024. This growth is now being fueled by a new generation of adaptive welding systems that enable robots to see, learn and respond in real time.

Strategic partnerships have also played a key role in Novarc’s success. Seaspan Shipyards, a major B.C. marine company, became a strategic investor and early adopter in 2017. Over the years, Novarc’s Spool Welding Robot (SWR) has been installed at both their Vancouver Drydock and Victoria Shipyards, where it helps to drive worker productivity and weld quality during large, complex ship repair and maintenance projects.

In total, Seaspan has contributed $5.5 million to support the development and commercialization of Novarc’s welding automation technologies. As part of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, Seaspan’s investment reflects a broader commitment to advancing homegrown innovation.

With over a decade of industrial deployment and data behind it, Novarc has evolved from a hardware-centric startup into a software-driven leader in AI-powered automation for the manufacturing industry. Its focus on intelligent automation is helping industries overcome labour shortages while delivering safer, faster and more precise manufacturing solutions.

B.C.’s AI Ecosystem in Action

Novarc’s success is not happening in isolation, it reflects the strength of the ecosystem that surrounds it.  B.C.’s advantage in applied and commercialized AI spans software, platforms and hardware, with wide-reaching impact across robotics, marine, life sciences, cybersecurity, workers’ safety and advanced manufacturing. Novarc Technologies exemplifies how homegrown AI innovation is driving global industry transformation, creating safer workplaces for dangerous tasks, while reinforcing the province’s position as a leader in industrial automation and intelligent systems.