Our take
Novarc is the specialist pick for pipe fabrication shops. Its Spool Welding Robot (SWR) launched at FABTECH as the world's first welding cobot, in the company's words, and it now pairs the robot with NovAI, a machine vision system that lets the robot track and adjust the weld on its own.3,2
It is also one of the better-documented private companies in this sector. BCBusiness reported in November 2025 that Novarc was growing about 30% a year, with 150 people and revenue nearing $30 million, after a $50 million Series B led by Export Development Canada. Novarc does not publish prices, which keeps its pricing score low.5,4
Scores by criterion
Each criterion is defined on our methodology page.
Who uses Novarc and what it's for
Novarc's buyers are mechanical contractors, pipe fabricators, shipbuilders, and process equipment makers who weld large volumes of pipe spools. Named customers include Seaspan's Vancouver Drydock, ColonialWebb, Trident Process Systems, and Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors.1
It fits shops that cannot hire enough skilled welders. Karimzadeh told MaRS that welding demand is outstripping supply in every market, and that the company sells its full robots directly in the United States while taking NovAI to market through Miller Electric's channels.6
The Spool Welding Robot
The SWR is a collaborative robot built for pipe spools. Novarc says it has the smallest footprint in the industry, a 4 by 4 foot base that can work with up to five positioners, and it combines a Welding Vision System with NovData reporting so shops can tie weld data and video to each job.2
Case studies on the homepage claim that ColonialWebb doubled its welding output and that Trident Process Systems added 200 to 250 diameter inches of pipe welding per shift and cut labor costs by 10% to 20%. These are vendor figures, not independent tests.1
NovAI and the Miller Electric deal
In 2025 Novarc began selling NovAI, its AI vision system, as a separate product for other cobots, and it announced a strategic partnership with Miller Electric, the American arc welding equipment maker, to combine their technology.4,6
Karimzadeh describes NovAI as aimed at a much bigger market than the full robots, with Miller Electric's presence and channels carrying it to new customer segments.6
Funding
The $50 million Series B in March 2025 was led by Export Development Canada, with Graham Partners, shipbuilder Seaspan, and InBC Investment Corp. MaRS reported the round's close at $71.6 million, which appears to be the Canadian dollar figure.4,6
Competitive landscape
| Company | Product | Pricing model | Deployment footprint | Where Novarc wins or loses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novarc Technologies | Spool Welding Robot and NovAI vision for pipe welding1 | Not published1 | 150 people and revenue nearing $30 million5 | Specialist for pipe spool shops; pricing not published |
| Path Robotics | AI welding cells and Rove mobile welding9 | Offered as a service with no upfront capital cost, priced by quote9,15 | More than $100 million in bookings in 2025; Navy shipbuilding agreements with HII8,10 | Novarc wins in pipe spool shops. Path wins on a wider range of structural parts. |
| Vectis Automation | Cobot welding and plasma cutting tools on Universal Robots arms12 | Published: most systems $95,000 to $140,000 all-in, rental with purchase option11 | More than 800 deployments across North America12 | Novarc wins on pipe welding specialization. Vectis wins on published prices and lower entry cost. |
| Hirebotics | App-controlled welding, cutting, and painting cobots13 | Published: cobot welder from $105,000, owned outright, no required subscription13 | Job shops buying single cells13 | Novarc wins on pipe welding volume. Hirebotics wins on published prices and phone-based programming. |
| Abagy | AI welding software that plans robot paths without programming14 | Not published; financing through partners14 | High-mix makers of beams, joists, frames, and trusses14 | Novarc wins on a complete pipe welding cell. Abagy wins for shops that want software for robots they own. |
Limits
No public pricing. Novarc quotes each cell and offers financing and leasing, but buyers cannot compare list prices.1
The SWR is a specialist tool for pipe spools. Shops welding flat plate or mixed structural parts will need a more general system.2
Productivity numbers on its site are customer case studies published by Novarc.1
What customers say
Where it helps
Remarkably, the SWR has proven to be equivalent to having four to six skilled welders on average for our operations.
The cost of weld repairs is typically between $800.-$1,000 per test, and with Novarc we’ve achieved a 0% failure rate.
Where it falls short
We found no independent negative reviews of Novarc. Concerns raised in public reporting are about the market, such as steel and aluminum tariffs and US trade policy, which Karimzadeh discussed with MaRS.6
Leadership
Soroush Karimzadeh
Co-founder and chief executive officerKarimzadeh holds an MBA and a master's in electrical engineering from the University of British Columbia and is a CFA charterholder.7
Donato Montanari
Chief technology officerMontanari previously held executive roles at imaging-based companies, from public corporations to startups.7
Sources
- Novarc Technologies, Homepage, accessed November 1, 2026
- Novarc Technologies, Spool Welding Robot, accessed November 1, 2026
- Novarc Technologies, About, accessed November 1, 2026
- Novarc Technologies, Novarc raises $50 million Series B, accessed November 1, 2026
- BCBusiness, Entrepreneur of the Year 2025: Soroush Karimzadeh, accessed November 1, 2026
- MaRS, Made in Canada: How Novarc navigates market uncertainty, accessed November 1, 2026
- Novarc Technologies, Team, accessed November 1, 2026
- Path Robotics, 2025 year in review, accessed November 1, 2026
- Path Robotics, Newsroom and company facts, accessed October 31, 2026
- Path Robotics, HII signs production agreements with Path Robotics and GrayMatter Robotics, accessed November 1, 2026
- Vectis Automation, Pricing, accessed November 1, 2026
- Vectis Automation, Home page, accessed November 1, 2026
- Hirebotics, Pricing, accessed November 1, 2026
- Abagy, Home page, accessed November 1, 2026
- Path Robotics, Homepage, accessed October 31, 2026
