SFO Technologies and Cochin Shipyard Launch India’s First Indigenous Hybrid Laser Arc Welding Technology

KALAMASSERY — SFO Technologies Pvt. Ltd., the flagship company of NeST Group, and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) have jointly unveiled India’s first indigenously designed and manufactured Hybrid Laser Arc Welding (HLAW) technology. The announcement was made during the inauguration of the Advanced Laser Engineering Centre and Hybrid Laser Arc Welding R&D Facility at NeST Hitek Park in Kalamassery.

The facility was formally inaugurated by Jose V. J., Chairman and Managing Director of CSL, and N. Jehangir, Chairman and Managing Director of SFO Technologies.

The newly introduced HLAW system integrates laser welding, conventional arc welding, robotics, and advanced automation. It is powered by a high-power fibre laser source that was indigenously developed by SFO Technologies. According to the companies, the technology is designed to deliver faster welding speeds, deeper penetration, lower distortion, and improved weld consistency.

This development is intended to serve several strategic manufacturing sectors, including shipbuilding, defence, heavy engineering, railways, and energy, as well as the production of large tanks and wagons. In shipbuilding, where welding plays a critical role in vessel construction, the technology aims to enhance overall productivity, structural quality, and manufacturing repeatability.

Industry stakeholders view the collaboration as a step toward reducing India’s reliance on imported laser welding platforms while building domestic capabilities in high-end industrial tech. The Advanced Laser Engineering Centre will focus on the research, testing, validation, and commercialization of advanced laser technologies.

Speaking on the development, N. Jehangir said that developing the high-power fiber laser source in-house and integrating it with robotics and automation demonstrates that high-end manufacturing technologies can be engineered and built domestically.

Jose V. J. added that the collaboration addresses real industrial needs. He noted that the indigenous HLAW system holds the potential to improve productivity, quality, and competitiveness across the Indian manufacturing sector.

"The collaboration between SFO Technologies and Cochin Shipyard highlights the growing capability of Indian enterprises to build advanced industrial technology in-house. By focusing on indigenous R&D in sectors like heavy engineering and shipbuilding, companies can reduce import dependencies and improve operational efficiencies. This development demonstrates how strategic partnerships between public sector enterprises and private tech groups can address practical industrial requirements and strengthen domestic manufacturing ecosystems." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes