Against the backdrop of China's manufacturing upgrade and the restructuring of global supply chains, purchasing welding equipment often presents a recurring dilemma: is it more reliable to buy imported equipment, or more cost-effective to use domestic products? This article systematically compares imported and domestic equipment in terms of performance, cost, service, stability, and sustainability, focusing on three types of equipment: spot welding, laser welding, and robotic welding. It provides practical purchasing advice and a decision-making framework to help procurement engineers and workshop managers make more informed choices.
I. Conclusion (Quick Summary / Key Decision Points)
If you prioritize long-term stability, reliability under extreme working conditions, and international certifications (e.g., automotive Tier 1 suppliers, aerospace), imported equipment is generally a safer choice.
If you prioritize cost-effectiveness, fast delivery, localized service, and customized needs (SMEs, lightweight production lines), domestic equipment usually excels in cost and response speed.
Hybrid procurement (imported core components + domestic equipment integration) is a compromise strategy for many companies: ensuring critical performance while balancing cost and service.
The final choice should be based on product process requirements, production volume, budget, local service, and long-term maintenance costs (TCO), not just the equipment unit price.
II. Detailed Comparison by Equipment Category
1. Spot Welding Machines (Resistance Spot Welding)
Advantages of Imported Equipment
More mature control systems (servo/inverter) and power regulation, precise welding curve control, and high weld point consistency.
Better performance under high-strength requirements in automotive and aerospace applications.
Brands have a long-standing reputation and rigorous testing procedures.
Advantages of Domestic Equipment
Lower single-unit purchase cost, high cost-effectiveness.
Closer to local material/process optimization experience, more flexible tooling and fixture customization.
Spare parts and technical support are faster and more cost-effective.
Practical Recommendations
For high-volume production and strict quality requirements (such as weld strength/tensile strength), prioritize importing spot welding machines or using imported core components; for cost and delivery time priorities, choose domestic equipment.
2. Laser Welding Machines (Fiber Laser/Solid-State Laser)
Advantages of Imported Equipment
Laser sources, optical systems, and cooling systems generally lead in stability and efficiency (especially in high-power deep penetration welding scenarios).
Mature control software and high integration with supporting vision/positioning/sensing systems.
Excellent performance in complex welds and scenarios with high appearance requirements.
Advantages of Domestic Equipment
The cost-effectiveness of low-power and medium-power equipment has improved significantly, suitable for most stainless steel/thin plate batch production needs.
Faster response for customized tooling, secondary development, and localized after-sales service.
The ecosystem for domestic laser sources (fiber modules) is gradually improving, offering long-term cost advantages.
Practical Recommendations
For deep penetration welding, thick plates, or 24/7 continuous operation with high risk costs, consider imported laser welding machines or imported laser sources; for thin plates, assembly welding, and high appearance requirements but limited budget, domestic fiber lasers can meet most needs.
3. Robotic Welding (Six-Axis Robot + End-of-Arm Tooling)
Advantages of Imported Equipment
More mature motion control accuracy, dynamic performance, long-term stability, and advanced communication ecosystem (ABB, KUKA, Fanuc, etc., lead in trajectory control and advanced functions).
More stable performance in complex paths, high-speed welding, and multi-station collaboration.
Advantages of Domestic Equipment
In recent years, the performance of domestic robots has rapidly caught up (improved repeatability and load capacity), and their prices are significantly lower than imported ones.
A rich ecosystem of integrators and local supply chains provides faster system integration and implementation support.
For standardized welding processes, domestic robots are sufficient for most scenarios.
Practical Recommendations
For high-end complex paths or scenarios requiring international certification, prioritize imported robots; for scenarios requiring rapid deployment, cost sensitivity, or multi-point repetitive spot welding, prioritize domestic robots and cooperate with high-quality integrators.
III. Practical Purchasing Process (6 Steps)
Clarify process and key indicators: Production volume (pieces/day), workpiece material and thickness, weld location, appearance requirements, and strength requirements.
Define budget and TCO budget window: The unit price is just the starting point; calculate the long-term costs of spare parts/consumables/energy consumption/training and maintenance.
Determine whether "key components" must be imported: For example, high-power laser sources, servo systems, and high-precision sensors can be considered for import.
Evaluate supplier capabilities and service network: Localized after-sales service and spare parts speed are often more important than a 5-10% performance difference.
Require on-site testing and sample evaluation: Test with your actual products, focusing on welding consistency and rework rate.
Sign a contract including key SLAs: Include spare parts delivery time, remote diagnostics, training, and on-site commissioning time in the contract.
IV. Three Common Procurement Strategies (Based on different company objectives)
Cost-priority type (SMEs): Prioritize domestic complete machines, and key vulnerable parts (such as laser sources, servos, or sensors) can be selected from imported or high-quality domestic alternatives.
Performance-priority type (automotive/aerospace suppliers): Imported main machine + local integration and tooling; or import the complete machine and confirm after-sales SLA in advance.
Hybrid/layered procurement (stable and sustainable): Use imported or high-end domestic equipment for key production lines, and domestic equipment for auxiliary lines; gradually replace and localize.
V. Conclusion: Choice is not prejudice, but matching
"Imported is better / Domestic is better" is not an either-or question, but a matter of "matching" the welding machine: matching your process goals, capacity needs, budget constraints, local service capabilities, and long-term strategy. A good procurement decision considers performance, cost, risk, and service together, not just the equipment label.
If you have welding machine requirements, please contact Ms. Zhao
E-Mail: pdkj@gd-pw.com
Phone: +86-13631765713
