This may be a dumb question, but I really wonder about this.

If you look at the closeup pictures of about any folder web site and the welding looks perfect
every time.

so question is....Is the welding done by Humans or robots?

see ya

My guess would humans. To costly to set up robots. Roger

No it is actually robots. There are HUGE factories churning out 1000s of frames every day for many many brands.

I can attest to the fact all Bike Friday bikes are welded by hand by humans with love...

Looks can be deceiving. Especially with marketing photos.

I may be wrong, but I believe the actual welds are not automated.

What has been said is all true to some extent. Any part of the frame that can be automated will be to save time and labor. I guess this is common sense but I thought someone from those parts of the world would add their 2 cents.

see ya

Humans.

Does it matter?

Maybe human welding is more apt to quality control issues. All it takes is one hungover welder on a monday morning, or a less than conciencious Friday afternoon welder...

For some reason I saw the word ALUMINIUM in the opening question... hence my response of "robots" ops: For alum frames from China it is definitely robotic. Not for Brompton BF etc.

cyborgs!

omfg if i was a cyborg i wouldn't need a folder cause i cud transform into a motorcycle!

Must be my upbringing but I read cyborg as cyberman (Dr Who's second worst enemy from the 1960s), in which case you would have trouble transforming into a hobby horse

Humanoids.

Bad luck, but you can get ointment for them

Nope not at all, was just wondering cause if it's done by humans they are darn good at it. Humans get bored and to do this perfect every time is quite the skill.

But then we don't see the goof's go into the scrap bin....

see ya