TPT July 2009

W elding: L atest D evelopments & M achinery

Advanced welding capabilities for automotive parts manufacturer

The Air Liquide Welding Group provides a range of innovative solutions in welding and cutting techniques comprising welding consumables, welding and cutting machines

UmformtechnikErfurt, Germany, a subsidiary of the Schuler Group, has reported success after incorporating new automated welding technology from Oerlikon GmbH into its production facilities. Umformtechnik Erfurt, a manufacturer of complex structural and small automotive parts, is a member of the Schuler Group, a pioneer in forming technology with a range of metalworking machines, equipment and tools. The welding factory at Erfurt required an installation for welding in SA and MAG techniques alternately, in each case using the 2-wire technique with up to 400mm material thicknesses. Four companies competed for the contract, with the expertise of Oerlikon finally winning the order. Oerlikon, one of two welding and cutting brands of the Air Liquide Welding Group, possesses complete industrial knowledge and offers comprehensive support in submerged-arc welding. “Oerlikon is and was the right decision. We have a very good installation and appreciate the service,” says Mr Holger Lunkwitz, head of the Umformtechnik Erfurt welding technique competence centre.

Fulfilment of the project, from design to production, took just over one year. The total weight of the completed welding equipment is about 35t. In order to adapt to the needs of the project, Oerlikon evaluated the basic alternatives of automation and robot welding. The different techniques were tested and compared in practical use. For testing the SA double-wire technique a welding tractor was purchased. At the same time intensive welding tests were carried out using the robot technique. The tests clearly showed that the column boom was preferred for this application. TheSAequipment has nowbeen in operation for runs at 3,800 hours a year. The longest component to have been produced with this method to date was 14,600mm. Seventy- five per cent of the weld seam volume is still welded manually, with twenty-five per cent covered by automatic machines. The deposition rate is up to 26kg/h with a wire feed speed of 8.7m/min when both centre sleeves are used at the same time. This corresponds to roughly ten times the performance of a manual welder.

and automation solutions. Schuler AG – Germany Fax : +49 71 61 66 233

Website : www.schulergroup.com Oerlikon Schweißtechnik GmbH – Germany

Fax : +49 63 51 4 76 335 Email : info@oerlikon.de Website : www.oerlikon.de

Adding to safety Thermadyne Industries’ Victor ® has announced the release of CutSkill ® flashback arrestors, increasing the line of safety products.

Tube welding power supply Arc Machines, Inc has launched its new Model 205 orbital (GTAW) power supply, said to incorporate the best features of the company’s popular Models 207A and 307 while being rugged, versatile, lightweight and easy-to-use. Model 205 is suitable for joining 1 / 4 " stainless steel tube for a semiconductor plant, 3 / 4 " titanium

aircraft fuel lines, 1.5" electro- polished tube for a biopharm application, 2" schedule 40 carbon steel pipe steam line, or simply tack- welding two components. The key features of the Model 205 include: • Full size colour touch screen • Multi-use USB port • Automatic weld schedule development • Programming by time or degrees • Multiple-language capability • Lightweight (50 lb) • Compatible with all AMI fusion weld heads Arc Machines, Inc – USA Fax : +1 818 890 3724 • Website : www.arcmachines.com

 Victor’s new flashback arrestors are designed for superior performance This new line of regulator and torch-mounted flashback arrestors is designed to provide superior performance at a competitive price, while offering unsurpassed safety and reliability. The standard features of the CutSkill flashback arrestors include: • Built-in reverse flow check valves • Specific design to prevent mismatching of oxygen and fuel • Factory tested to ensure maximum reliability

 The new Model 205 tube welding power supply from Arc Machines

Thermadyne Industries – USA Website : www.thermadyne.com

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