The Era of 'Learn by Watching' is Over. KAWADA Launches 'C-LUM', a Welding Monitoring System that Revolutionizes Skills Transfer
KAWADA Technologies and KAWADA Industries have launched 'C-LUM', a welding monitoring system that digitizes tacit welding knowledge. It uses proprietary image composition technology to display the welder's view (arc and weld pool) and data (current/voltage) in real-time on a PC. This innovation facilitates data-driven education, ensuring safer environments and efficient talent development in manufacturing and vocational schools.
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- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 22:00
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KAWADA Technologies, Inc. and KAWADA Industries, Inc. (Tokyo Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; President: Tadahiro Kawada) announce the launch of a new product, the 'Welding Monitoring System "C-LUM"', which contributes to the transfer of welding skills and solves issues in educational settings.
Displaying the Expert's 'View' and 'Welding Data' on a PC in Real-Time
This system is a groundbreaking solution that reproduces the 'view close to the brightness and darkness seen through shaded glass' by the welder using proprietary image composition technology, allowing instructors and trainees to share it in real-time. This makes it possible to share an expert welder's 'view' and 'welding data' in real-time, dramatically improving the educational effectiveness and safety of welding training and practice.
Since announcing the development of the '3D Digital Welding Mask System' in 2023, KAWADA Technologies and KAWADA Industries have continued their efforts to transform 'tacit knowledge', which is difficult to verbalize, into 'data-driven education' based on video and numerical data. With a new technological approach, we have realized this and are now releasing it as the welding monitoring system 'C-LUM'.
Background of Development: The 'Skills Transfer Challenge' Facing Manufacturing and Education
Currently, the Japanese manufacturing sector is facing the challenge of retiring skilled workers and difficulties in securing young recruits. Particularly in the welding field, the following 'skills transfer challenges' are becoming increasingly serious:
The Wall of 'Tacit Knowledge'
The 'skills' of experts, such as the state of the arc and weld pool, and rod manipulation, which are difficult to verbalize, easily become tacit knowledge. With the traditional 'learn by watching' style of instruction, it took many years to acquire the skills.
The Wall of 'Safety'
In welding practice, which involves risks such as high temperatures, sparks, flashes, and fumes, ensuring safety is the top priority. However, maintaining a safe distance lowers the quality of instruction, making appropriate feedback difficult.
The Wall of 'Time'
Amidst a declining working population, educational curriculums that efficiently train newcomers in a short period are required. However, instruction relying on individual intuition causes variations in growth speed, making systematic human resource development difficult.
To solve these challenges, the 'Welding Monitoring System C-LUM' was developed based on the concepts of 'visualization of skills' and 'safe sharing methods'.
Overview and Features of 'C-LUM'
Using proprietary image composition technology, this system reproduces in real-time the 'state of the arc and weld pool' seen by the welder through shaded glass, displaying and recording it on a monitor. By attaching a compact camera unit to the glabella position of the welding protective mask you normally use, welding work can be recorded without obstructing the worker's field of vision.
Furthermore, through an IF unit, welding data such as current and voltage synchronized with the video is acquired, which can be utilized for monitoring during welding and verification after welding. As a result, the 'moment of condition change' and 'factors of bead formation', which previously relied on qualitative judgments, are shared quantitatively based on video and data, contributing to maximizing educational effectiveness and improving safety.
* Some welding protective masks cannot be attached.
* Patents pending for the protective mask with camera, work management system, HDR composition of welding images, and welding speed measurement by image.
Main Functions and Features
1. Real-time sharing of the expert's 'view'
The welder's view video is displayed in real-time on a monitor at a remote location. Instructors can confirm the melting state in detail while maintaining a safe distance, enabling accurate verbal guidance and improvement instructions during welding.
2. Accelerating review learning with video and data
After welding, the video and changes in current and voltage can be immediately reviewed on a graph, allowing for a visual and logical understanding of the welding results. This dramatically improves the speed of skill acquisition.
3. From 'intuition' to 'numbers'. DX of instruction quality
Current and voltage data are displayed in real-time on the welding video. This transforms instruction from traditional intuitive guidance like 'stabilize the current a bit more' to instruction based on objective numerical values like 'maintain O V with a current of O A', realizing standardized and improved quality of instruction.
Image of real-time and remote instruction using 'C-LUM'
Expected Implementation Scenes and Specific Benefits
It offers significant benefits in a wide range of scenes, from educational institutions to manufacturing and construction sites.
● Educational Institutions and Training Facilities (Technical High Schools, Vocational Training Schools, etc.)
Realizing Instruction that 'Connects'
The instructor's model performance and the expert's 'view' are shared in real-time with all trainees. It is easy to turn into video teaching materials, supporting new educational methods such as flipped learning, maximizing learning effectiveness.
Safe and High-Quality Practice Environment
High-density instruction via monitor becomes possible while minimizing entry into dangerous welding areas. Educational quality is improved while ensuring safety.
Efficient Educational Operations
Even non-welding specialist instructors can obtain feedback from experts based on recorded video
Displaying the Expert's 'View' and 'Welding Data' on a PC in Real-Time
This system is a groundbreaking solution that reproduces the 'view close to the brightness and darkness seen through shaded glass' by the welder using proprietary image composition technology, allowing instructors and trainees to share it in real-time. This makes it possible to share an expert welder's 'view' and 'welding data' in real-time, dramatically improving the educational effectiveness and safety of welding training and practice.
Since announcing the development of the '3D Digital Welding Mask System' in 2023, KAWADA Technologies and KAWADA Industries have continued their efforts to transform 'tacit knowledge', which is difficult to verbalize, into 'data-driven education' based on video and numerical data. With a new technological approach, we have realized this and are now releasing it as the welding monitoring system 'C-LUM'.
Background of Development: The 'Skills Transfer Challenge' Facing Manufacturing and Education
Currently, the Japanese manufacturing sector is facing the challenge of retiring skilled workers and difficulties in securing young recruits. Particularly in the welding field, the following 'skills transfer challenges' are becoming increasingly serious:
The Wall of 'Tacit Knowledge'
The 'skills' of experts, such as the state of the arc and weld pool, and rod manipulation, which are difficult to verbalize, easily become tacit knowledge. With the traditional 'learn by watching' style of instruction, it took many years to acquire the skills.
The Wall of 'Safety'
In welding practice, which involves risks such as high temperatures, sparks, flashes, and fumes, ensuring safety is the top priority. However, maintaining a safe distance lowers the quality of instruction, making appropriate feedback difficult.
The Wall of 'Time'
Amidst a declining working population, educational curriculums that efficiently train newcomers in a short period are required. However, instruction relying on individual intuition causes variations in growth speed, making systematic human resource development difficult.
To solve these challenges, the 'Welding Monitoring System C-LUM' was developed based on the concepts of 'visualization of skills' and 'safe sharing methods'.
Overview and Features of 'C-LUM'
Using proprietary image composition technology, this system reproduces in real-time the 'state of the arc and weld pool' seen by the welder through shaded glass, displaying and recording it on a monitor. By attaching a compact camera unit to the glabella position of the welding protective mask you normally use, welding work can be recorded without obstructing the worker's field of vision.
Furthermore, through an IF unit, welding data such as current and voltage synchronized with the video is acquired, which can be utilized for monitoring during welding and verification after welding. As a result, the 'moment of condition change' and 'factors of bead formation', which previously relied on qualitative judgments, are shared quantitatively based on video and data, contributing to maximizing educational effectiveness and improving safety.
* Some welding protective masks cannot be attached.
* Patents pending for the protective mask with camera, work management system, HDR composition of welding images, and welding speed measurement by image.
Main Functions and Features
1. Real-time sharing of the expert's 'view'
The welder's view video is displayed in real-time on a monitor at a remote location. Instructors can confirm the melting state in detail while maintaining a safe distance, enabling accurate verbal guidance and improvement instructions during welding.
2. Accelerating review learning with video and data
After welding, the video and changes in current and voltage can be immediately reviewed on a graph, allowing for a visual and logical understanding of the welding results. This dramatically improves the speed of skill acquisition.
3. From 'intuition' to 'numbers'. DX of instruction quality
Current and voltage data are displayed in real-time on the welding video. This transforms instruction from traditional intuitive guidance like 'stabilize the current a bit more' to instruction based on objective numerical values like 'maintain O V with a current of O A', realizing standardized and improved quality of instruction.
Image of real-time and remote instruction using 'C-LUM'
Expected Implementation Scenes and Specific Benefits
It offers significant benefits in a wide range of scenes, from educational institutions to manufacturing and construction sites.
● Educational Institutions and Training Facilities (Technical High Schools, Vocational Training Schools, etc.)
Realizing Instruction that 'Connects'
The instructor's model performance and the expert's 'view' are shared in real-time with all trainees. It is easy to turn into video teaching materials, supporting new educational methods such as flipped learning, maximizing learning effectiveness.
Safe and High-Quality Practice Environment
High-density instruction via monitor becomes possible while minimizing entry into dangerous welding areas. Educational quality is improved while ensuring safety.
Efficient Educational Operations
Even non-welding specialist instructors can obtain feedback from experts based on recorded video
FAQ
What does C-LUM visualize in welding skills?
Using proprietary image technology, it visualizes the welder's 'view' of the arc and weld pool, along with 'welding data' like current and voltage, displaying them on a PC monitor.
How is it different from traditional welding instruction?
Unlike traditional, intuitive 'learn by watching' instruction, C-LUM enables logical 'data-driven education' using real-time video and numerical data, improving safety and learning speed.
What equipment is required to use C-LUM?
It requires a compact camera unit attached to a standard protective mask, an IF unit to capture data, and a PC to display and record the video and data.