Mantis™ passes Factory Acceptance Testing with independent NDT certification
FBR Limited (ASX: FBR) has completed Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) of its first Mantis™ welding robot, backed by third-party Non Destructive Test (NDT) certification. The result was announced on 8 October 2026.
According to the company, FAT was the key technical gate governing commercial acceptance of the first Mantis™ pursuant to the machine sales agreement. Following completion of FAT, the purchase order is now unconditional.
For investors, the first Mantis™ sale is no longer subject to technical acceptance under that agreement. FBR also describes the result as a milestone in commercialising its proprietary Dynamic Stabilisation Technology® (DST®) for heavy industrial manufacturing.
Mantis™ satisfied all FAT parameters. The testing demonstrated:
- Automated twin wire welding
- Rapid travel speeds
- Consistent weld deposition
- Validated performance of its 8-metre reach
- Validated performance of integrated DST® motion compensation
Mark Pivac, CEO, FBR
“Passing Factory Acceptance Testing and receiving independent certification from InSpec NDT confirming full compliance with AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2025 proves that Mantis™ is an exceptional, code-compliant automated welding solution for heavy industrial fabrication… I am proud to state that Mantis™ works as intended…”
Independent weld quality verification
Accredited inspection agency InSpec NDT Pty Ltd conducted non-destructive testing across the test weldments. The evaluation confirmed the welds fully satisfied the visual, surface, volumetric and magnetic particle inspection acceptance criteria of AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2025.
FBR stated this validates that Mantis™ produces code-compliant welds suitable for critical structural steel applications. The company describes Mantis™ as a high deposition welding robot for large-scale metal fabrication industries such as mining, shipbuilding and defence manufacture.
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What is automated high-deposition welding and why does certification matter?
High-deposition welding lays down a large amount of weld metal in a short time, which suits heavy steel structures. Robotic systems automate this process so that travel speed and weld deposition stay consistent.
FBR’s robots are designed to work outdoors using DST®, its core Dynamic Stabilisation Technology®. Motion compensation of this kind is the role DST® plays in Mantis™.
Structural welding codes such as AWS D1.1 set the acceptance criteria that welds must meet. Independent NDT verification, in this case by InSpec NDT, provides third-party evidence that those criteria were satisfied.
For the investment case, the certification addresses weld quality evidence, one of the questions a prospective buyer may ask before adopting new automation. The announcement itself frames the result as validation for heavy industrial applications.
Perth pilot program to build the Mantis™ sales pipeline
FBR and the customer have agreed that the first machine will remain in Perth, Western Australia for the remainder of CY26 to undertake a paid pilot program and conduct demonstrations. The announcement’s headline refers to the pilot running until January 2027, with pieces produced under a welding contract.
The rationale is downtime. Immediate shipping would induce approximately eight weeks of operational delay during ocean freight and US import processing, during which Mantis™ could not be operated or showcased to prospective clients.
| Item | Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot location and duration | Perth, until January 2027 | Keeps the unit operational and available to demonstrate |
| Test pieces | Test piece details provided by several large industrial companies for trial welding on real-world geometries | Allows FBR to prove cycle-time savings and weld quality firsthand |
| Planned demonstrations | Tier 1 mining, shipbuilding and heavy fabrication groups this quarter | Supports efforts to expand the forward order pipeline |
| Second unit | Being built | Indicates production activity on a further Mantis™ unit |
Industrial Robotics LLC will bring prospective US clients to Perth to witness Mantis™ in operation during the pilot. Mr Pivac also said FBR will work alongside Industrial Robotics to host prospective US customers on the workshop floor or provide video link up for real time demonstrations.
Contract variation and deposit
FBR has varied its sales contract for the first Mantis™ unit with State Machinery & Equipment Sales. The contract is now with Industrial Robotics LLC, which was founded by the owner of State Machinery and is described as an affiliated company of State Machinery.
Under the variation, FBR will receive a deposit of $198,000. Industrial Robotics has paid a 20% deposit to secure the first unit. The announcement does not disclose a total contract price.
Industrial Robotics was appointed non-exclusive distributor of Mantis™ in the United States and Canada in July 2026. Following the pilot, Mantis™ will be shipped to the United States for site commissioning and integration at State Machinery’s Mississippi River facility.
The five-year distribution agreement signed with Industrial Robotics covers the United States and Canada on a non-exclusive basis, focusing initially on Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, the Florida Panhandle and Eastern Texas.
What’s next for FBR and Mantis™
The announcement points to several near-term activities:
- Pilot welding of real production pieces in Perth
- Demonstrations with Tier 1 mining, shipbuilding and heavy fabrication groups this quarter
- Conversion of prospects into Mantis™ sales and production slots
- Shipping to the US following the pilot program
- Build of the second Mantis™ unit
Mr Pivac said the pilot program is aimed at speeding up the sales process in Australia, Korea, the USA and other global regions.
With FAT complete, independent certification in hand and a paid pilot under way, FBR is positioned to use the Perth period to convert prospective customers before the first unit ships.
For readers wanting to see how the FAT milestone was funded, our full explainer on FBR’s A$4M capital raise sets out the placement and SPP terms, the intended use of proceeds, and how Mantis™ fits alongside the Hadrian and Firehawk product lines.
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