Polski
AI Takes Over CNC, Robots Weld Without Code – A Week of Investment in Metalworking
This week in metalworking technology has one common denominator: capital is flowing toward automation that's becoming simpler and more accessible for smaller workshops, not just for large plants with dedicated programming departments. Two funding rounds – one from London, one from Seoul – show that investors see the future in artificial intelligence that programs CNC machines and in welding robots that an operator with no coding experience can run. Here's what happened.
01 · AI in CNC
CloudNC and $20 Million for AI That Programs For You [1]
UK-based CloudNC has closed a $20 million funding round backed by Nimble Ventures, Calculus Venture Capital, Entrepreneur First, and LM Ventures. The money will go toward further development of artificial intelligence that supports machining programming – one of the most time-consuming stages of work in a CNC shop.
The company's flagship product is CAM Assist, a tool that automatically generates machining strategies and toolpaths, eliminating hours of manual work for CNC programmers. The system is already running in more than a thousand workshops worldwide, which is a solid testament to its effectiveness on its own. CloudNC isn't slowing down – on the roadmap is Quote Agent, a tool for automatically pricing jobs, along with FedRAMP certification, which would open the door for the company to sell its solutions to the US defense sector. It's a clear sign that AI in metalworking is no longer just a conference talking point, but a real tool that shortens order turnaround times.
02 · Welding Robotics
RB-Ware: Code-Free Welding Reaches South Korea and Beyond [2]
On the other side of the globe, in South Korea, accelerator SparkLabs, together with fund SOSV, has invested around $640,000 in the startup RB-Ware. The company specializes in welding and grinding robots that can be operated without writing a single line of code – which, for smaller workshops where nobody has time to learn robot programming, is the real difference between adopting automation and sticking with manual work.
RB-Ware is already operating in 16 countries, and the investment is set to fuel its expansion into the US market. The company is also working on something more ambitious: an autonomous, mobile, AI-powered welding robot that could move between workstations on its own. If CloudNC answers the question of "how to program a machine tool faster," RB-Ware answers the question of "how to robotize welding without hiring a robotics specialist" – both stories share the same theme: lowering the barrier to entry for automation.
Summary
Summary
This week confirms a trend that's becoming harder to ignore – investors are no longer just chasing flashy humanoid robots, but concrete AI and automation tools that genuinely cut down shop-floor time, from CNC programming to welding. If you'd like to see similar solutions in action, we invite you to Warsaw MetalTech – Targi Technologii, Maszyn i Narzędzi do Obróbki Metalu, where automation, industrial robotics, and digital support for metalworking will be among the main topics of conversation at the booths.
Invitation
AI-assisted CNC programming, code-free welding robots – this isn't science fiction anymore, it's real technology you can see in action. Visit Warsaw MetalTech – Targi Technologii, Maszyn i Narzędzi do Obróbki Metalu and discover how automation is transforming Polish workshops right now. Talk to technology providers and plan your next step in growing your production.
Warsaw MetalTech 2026Footnotes
[1] Robotics and Automation News — https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2026/09/30/cloudnc-raises-20-million-to-expand-ai-tools-for-precision-machining/105348/[2] Seoul Economic Daily — https://en.sedaily.com/technology/2026/10/01/sparklabs-invests-in-no-code-welding-robot-startup-rb-ware
This review was prepared by the Ptak Warsaw Expo editorial team.