In high-quality briquetting systems RUF compacts materials like wood shavings or metal cuttings into easy-to-handle briquettes. An auger conveyor transports the bulk material to a chamber where the compacting process is made by a hydraulic cylinder. Surfacing a hardened layer by means of a high-alloyed welding wire increases the service life of the auger conveyor considerably. This process, the so-called Cladding, is an inexpensive alternative to other hardening processes of big components. At RUF a QIROX welding robot produces auger conveyors in different lengths and diameters on two working stations. Before welding a laser sensor which is mounted at the robot arm measures the auger conveyor and adapts the programmed path to the given conditions. This guarantees an optimum weld seam quality.