What makes TAWERS different from a standard robot plus external welding power supply?

The TAWERS (The Active Wire welding Robot System) collapses what is normally two separate systems—robot controller and welding power supply—into one integrated unit. The inverter power supply (350A standard, 500A high-power) is built into the GIII controller. This means welding waveform timing, wire feed, and robot motion are synchronized at the bus level rather than coordinated over external I/O. The result is faster response, tighter arc control, and a single teach pendant for both welding parameters and robot path programming.

What is the Super Active Wire Process (S-AWP)?

S-AWP is Panasonic's proprietary low-spatter welding process. The wire feed motor oscillates the wire forward and backward at high frequency, controlling droplet transfer mechanically rather than relying solely on current pulse shaping. This produces up to 99% less spatter than conventional MIG/MAG welding, reduces heat input and distortion on thin materials (steel, stainless, aluminum), and allows welding currents as low as 40A—suitable for sheet metal down to 0.8 mm.

Which TAWERS model fits your reach and payload requirements?

The TAWERS manipulator lineup spans TM-series arms from the compact TM-1100 through the extended-reach TM-2000 and TL-2000 long-arm variants. Payloads range from 4 kg to 8 kg, with reaches from approximately 840 mm to over 2,000 mm. Floor and ceiling (inverted) mounting are supported across the range. The GIII controller architecture is shared across all manipulators, so welding process capability is identical—only reach and payload differentiate the models.

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials can TAWERS weld?

Mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, zinc-coated steel (with Zi-Tech/Zi-Pulse processes), and high-strength thin steel plate (with HOT Active process). Brazing and aluminum MIG are also supported.

Can TAWERS run without the integrated power supply?

No. The inverter power supply is integral to the GIII controller architecture. The system is designed as a single-unit welding automation solution—there is no provision for connecting an external third-party power source.