Bug-O Systems inc., a division of weld tooling corporation founded in 1948, is a manufacturer of a system of drives, carriages, rails and attachments designed to automate welding guns, cutting torches and other hand held tools. the equipment's basic motion control concept was born during w.w.ii as a means to help mass produce navy ships at higgins industries, a shipbuilder in new orleans. this shipyard, with the help of the original bug-o machines, produced a record 700 boats a month. although the product has seen several changes and updates, it continues to serve its original intention to this day and has expanded to many types of steel fabrication in addition to shipbuilding.