Welding Equipment Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

Welding Equipment Market Size

Welding Equipment Market Trends & Growth Drivers

Technological Advancements Are Key Trends in Market

• Techniques such as laser welding and ultrasonic welding are witnessing an increased adoption in electrical appliances, robotic appliances, and moving automotive parts.
• Manufacturers are concentrating on developing programmable welding machines integrated with AI and IoT, to reduce operational expenses for users.
• The concept of robotic laser welding is emerging as a favorable technique worldwide, with significant demand particularly from the automotive, aerospace, and medical sectors due to its high precision. Programmable robotic laser welding machines perform the handling and joining operations simultaneously. They are widely used in assembly lines in the automotive sector, where precision joining and cutting are vital.
• Underwater welding is gaining popularity in marine operations. It is attributed to the increasing demand for offshore applications, the expansion of the renewable energy sector, and the continuing infrastructure development in the upstream oil & gas sector.
• For example, in North America, the surging demand for renewable energy and rigorous safety compliance drive the need for underwater welding for constructing and maintaining offshore wind energy infrastructure.
• Manufacturers of welding equipment are conducting extensive research to develop welding technology and equipment that can help in welding new types of materials being used by various industries.

Growing Demand from the Manufacturing and Construction Sector Is Driving the Market

• The building and construction sector, in particular, is experiencing unprecedented growth due to cumulative infrastructure developments in densely populated countries. As urban areas expand and new construction projects emerge, the need for robust and efficient welding solutions becomes more critical.
• New infrastructure projects, especially in the developing economies of China, Brazil, and India are propelling the need for welding equipment to a great degree.
• Arc welding is extensively used in construction and fabrication, and recent innovations in high-power laser welding and electron-beam welding have expanded its applications. These cutting-edge welding techniques are particularly effective for joining heavy metallic structures.
• With the increase in the initiatives and investments by governments and private organizations, heavy engineering sectors, such as railways, shipbuilding, mining, and oil & gas exploration, are expected to boom, leading to a demand for high-precision welding systems.
• Further, the increasing expenditure in the space sector is expected to augment the production of space shuttles, satellites, and rockets. For instance, the NSIL has announced a total investment of USD 1.2 billion in the next five years to increase industry involvement and commercial activities in the sector. Indian startups are taking an active interest in the space market; from just 1 startup in India’s space sector in 2012, the industry had grown to 189 startups in 2023. These opportunities are expected to fuel the demand for more welding equipment for manufacturing, maintenance, and repair operations.
• Worldwide, in the transportation field, a major transition from fuels to electricity is underway, together with technological innovations and progressions in the automobile sector. It is expected to alleviate environmental organizations’ concern over the challenges posed by climate change.
• As per the IEA’s Global EV Outlook 2024, 2024 could see 17 million electric car sales, which means that 1 in 5 cars sold would be electric.
• India plans to double the size of the automotive sector to INR 15 lakh crore by 2024 end.
• Therefore, the increase in the production of electric vehicles will increase the demand for welding equipment in the automotive industry.

Emission and Cost Concerns Hamper Market Growth

• The harmful pollutants produced by welding machines affect both the environment and human health, leading to more stringent environmental regulations related to waste management and emissions.
• This problem is even graver with engine-driven welders and oxy-acetylene welding machines as they burn hydrocarbons to produce electricity or directly perform welding and cutting, respectively.
• The upfront investment required for acquiring welding equipment, accessories; and advanced technologies poses an obstacle for small-scale enterprises and businesses with limited budgets.
• The exorbitant price of certain types of welding equipment, such as handheld laser welding machines, electronic beam welding machines, and robotic welders, become a restricting factor for industries in developing countries.

Welding Equipment Market Analysis

Technology Analysis

Arc welding holds the largest share in 2024, of 75%. It is the preferred technology in offshore work and manufacturing pipelines. Further, it is a cost-effective, versatile, and flexible welding process that is deployed across a wide range of industries. It is a fusion welding process that is generally used in steel structure fabrication in vehicles and construction.

Stick welding is the most accessible type of arc welding (requiring the least specialized equipment). It encompasses several methods, including tungsten/inert gas (TIG) welding, metal/inert gas (MIG) welding, flux cored-arc welding (FCAW), and submerged-arc welding (SAW), each suited for different applications.

Resistance welding is expected to grow the fastest during the forecast period. Its demand is surging owing to the need for innovative and precise welding of metal sheets of high-strength and low-alloy components. It is used in high-volume manufacturing environments, such as in the automotive sector, for processes such as projection welding, spot welding, and seam welding.

The technologies analyzed in the report are:

• Arc Welding (Largest Category)
  • Shielded metal/stick arc welding
  • MIG welding
  • TIG welding
  • Plasma arc welding
  • Others
• Resistance Welding (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Laser Beam Welding
• Oxy-Fuel Welding
• Others

Automation Type Analysis

The fully automatic category accounts for the largest market share, of 60%, in 2024, and it is also the fastest-growing category, with 6% CAGR. It is the most efficient technology, reliable, and time-effective, ensuring high-quantity production, optimum performance, and safety. The integration of automated robot systems over time has lessened the engagement of manual laborers in various industries, hence also reducing operational cost.

It is the best fit for large-scale production operations in sectors such as heavy engineering, oil and gas, automotive, and shipbuilding. Completely mechanized welding equipment controlled by artificial intelligence or industrial robots employs computerized actuators to achieve exact fitting and alignment of adjacent parts, warranting superior weld quality.

The automation types we have evaluated are:

• Fully automatic (Largest and Fastest-Growing Category)
• Semi-automatic
• Manual

Application Analysis

The automotive sector holds the largest market share, of 30%. Varying degrees of welding are availed for chassis manufacturing, frame construction, parts assembly, and exhaust system fabrication. To consolidate the sheet metal frames together, spot welding is the most sought-after in the automobile industry.

Likewise, TIG welding machines are designed to create a large number of precise and dependable components, such as small-diameter and thin-walled steel pipes and tubes, for motor vehicles. This method offers various filler metal options, aiding the production of high-tensile welds that resist corrosion and breaking.

The building and construction category is exhibiting the highest CAGR during the predicted period. The construction industry relies heavily on welding equipment and skilled manual laborers for projects such as buildings, pipelines, industrial facilities and warehouses, dams, and bridges. Quality welding ensures robust joints in construction projects, providing the strength needed to bear heavy loads and resist environmental conditions, such as seismic activity. In the same vein, in pipelines, welding safeguards critical joints by making them leakproof and durable enough to withstand high pressures and varying temperatures.

The applications analyzed in this report are:

• Automotive (Largest category)
• Building and Construction (Fastest growing category)
• Shipbuilding
• Heavy Engineering
• Aerospace and Defense
• Energy
• Oil and Gas
• Others

Regional Analysis

• Asia-Pacific dominates the market with a share of 40% in 2024, as it is the largest producer of the welding equipment and accessories. It will also witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period, of 7%.
• The high industrial growth rate in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in India and China, owing to the increase in government support for the development of sectors critical to the economy, will bolster the demand for welding technologies.
• Numerous infrastructure projects, such as the Make in India initiative and the PLI scheme, are significantly helping the manufacturing output grow.
• The Indian construction industry accounts for 9% of India’s GDP with a total market size of USD 126 billion, which the IBEF expects to rise to USD 1.4 trillion by 2025.
• Multiple merchants from several developed countries across the globe are investing in the Asia-Pacific, and Middle East and Africa for setting up their manufacturing plants. Europe- and U.S.-based companies are establishing their manufacturing plants for automobiles, welding equipment, petrochemicals, and defense goods production in APAC and MEA.

The Geographical breakdown of the market is as follows:

• North America
  • U.S. (Larger and Faster-Growing Country Market
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany (Largest and Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Italy
  • U.K.
  • France
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific (APAC) (Largest and Fastest-Growing Regional Market)
  • China (Largest Country Market)
  • India (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • South Korea
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • Rest of the APAC
• Latin America (LATAM)
  • Mexico (Largest Country Market)
  • Brazil (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Rest of LATAM
• Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Saudi Arabia (Largest Country Market)
  • U.A.E. (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • South Africa
  • Rest of MEA

Welding Equipment Market Share

The market is generally considered fragmented. The availability of multiple types of welding equipment and technologies for diverse end-use industries, including automotive, construction, aerospace, and manufacturing, restricts any one company from holding a major share. 

The welding industry is characterized by innovative solutions and technological advancements, which continually determine the demand of welding equipment. Companies, in order to enhance their position as global competitors, are resorting to various strategies, such as mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, and geographical expansions. There is a huge focus on research and development and fully automated technologies to enhance the efficiency of welding and cutting processes and better cater to the preferences of the end-use industries.

Welding Equipment Market News

• In June 2024, the Lincoln Electric Company acquired Infotech R/S, a privately held automation system integration and technology firm specializing in automated welding systems. The latter’s systems use advanced software and computer vision technology to adapt and make adjustments on their own, without prior programming or CAD files.
• In June 2024, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC unveiled multifaceted PAPR II solutions for demanding industrial applications, including welding and metal grinding. It is designed to offer ease and convenience and enhance compliance and performance in difficult industrial environments.
• In July 2024, voestalpine Böhler Welding Group GmbH acquired an Italian welding wire manufacturing company Italfil SPA. The addition of Italfil strengthens voestalpine Böhler Welding's portfolio, particularly with regard to un- and low-alloyed solid wires used in high-quality automated welding and surface protection.