In 2026, Valk Welding takes an important step towards the future of fully autonomous production. We are introducing a new, groundbreaking development within our Automatic Robot Programming (ARP) software: AI driven product recognition, also known as AI Driven Similarities.

This innovation shifts us from traditional automation to intelligent, self thinking welding processes. The new functionality makes it possible to automatically recognise product geometries and immediately link them to the most optimal, database based "best practice" welding parameters. As a result, the time consuming process of manual programming is virtually eliminated.

With AI Driven Similarities we create a technology that:

• eliminates the need for programming, allowing robots to be deployed immediately;
• delivers consistent welding results based on years of collected and validated quality data;
• makes complex or variable production processes easily scalable, without additional programming or personnel costs;
• contributes to higher output, predictability and production continuity, even in high mix, low volume environments.

This step aligns fully with our vision: developing solutions that enable customers to produce flexibly, efficiently and future proof, despite increasing work complexity and the growing demand for skilled professionals in the industry.

In 2026, we will present AI Driven Similarities at several major international trade fairs. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience for themselves how this technology thinks and acts like a master welder, setting a new standard for autonomous welding.

With AI Driven Similarities, Valk Welding brings the industry closer to a production environment in which robots not only perform tasks, but also think along, learn and optimise.