LEWES, DE—The worldwide market for welding robots is expected to grow 6.09 percent annually through 2019, according to a new forecast from Market Research Reports Inc.

Plastic parts with a round energy director can produce stronger, more consistent welds than parts with a sharp energy director.

SPARTANBURG, SC—BMW is constructing a 527,000-square-foot body shop at its assembly plant here. The facility will include more than 650 robots.

Vision-guided SCARA robot picks and places delicate ceramic parts.

ZURICH—ABB Ltd. has received a $52 million order to supply welding robots for Ford Motor Co.’s assembly plant in Harbin, China.

BAUNATAL, Germany—A robot accidentally killed a worker at Volkswagen’s automotive assembly plant here. The robot pressed the worker up against a metal plate, crushing his chest.

Like any technology, welding continues to evolve. This is especially true for a technique known as flash-butt welding, which has been around since the early 20th century.

A new generation of robotics technology will transform appliance manufacturing.

SOUTH BEND, IN—It’s 20 feet tall, weighs about 400,000 pounds and is now making its way from South Bend to Connecticut: It's the world's largest friction welding machine. Pratt & Whitney will use the machine, made by Manufacturing Technology Inc., to weld large-diameter jet engine components.

ANN ARBOR, MI—A total of 6,895 robots valued at approximately $435.1 million were ordered from North American companies during the first quarter of 2015. That’s an increase of 16 percent in units and 29 percent in dollars compared with the same period in 2014. Both orders and shipments in the opening quarter beat the previous record for the first quarter last set in 2013.