Russia Turns to Robots for Welding Nuclear Power Equipment

A pilot project at a Rosatom facility is showing how robotic welders can double efficiency and reduce physical strain on human workers.

Russia is rolling out robotic systems to handle welding tasks for nuclear power plant components. The pilot initiative began this week at the production site of the Central Design Bureau for Machine Building in Sosnovy Bor, according to state corporation Rosatom.

The robotic units operate autonomously, requiring no continuous operator oversight. They focus on welding spacers—a relatively simple task that is, nevertheless, labor-intensive. For human workers, a single spacer weld takes over 100 hours of physically demanding labor. Robots complete the same task in just 56 hours while maintaining consistently high weld quality.

Rosatom officials emphasize that the introduction of robotic welding will ease pressure on workshop teams without triggering job cuts. Skilled welders will instead be reassigned to more complex projects that demand flexibility and creative problem-solving.