TPT March 2025

Emerging tech shaping the landscape for European tube welding manufacturers By Pieter du Plessis, group product engineer, Welding Alloys

In Europe, the manufacturing market is expected to grow by 3.93 per cent by 2028, reaching an impressive value of £2.83tn. As the world continues to change and priorities shift, the European manufacturing industry is finding several ways to keep up with technologies, emerging trends and eco conscious strategies. For example, by 2030, 60 per cent of all manufacturing production will make use of sustainable practices, meaning that the sector is trying to play a significant part in preserving the well-being of the planet. But what other innovations are driving this thriving industry forward? Welding Alloys, an expert in hardfacing for welding businesses, explores what exciting tech trends are gradually shaping the new manufacturing landscape. Additive manufacturing Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is one of the most popular innovations embraced across the sector. Mario Cordero, group innovation director at Welding Alloys, said: “3D printing is becoming an increasingly He takes an in-depth look at the increasing use of augmented reality, additive manufacturing, robotics, cobots and Industrial Internet of Things as Europe seeks to keep up with the latest technologies and trends in an increasingly competitive global manufacturing environment. Pieter du Plessis from Welding Alloys provides an insight into the emerging trends of manufacturing across Europe as we head into 2025.

without the need for retooling. This is particularly useful for the healthcare and medical sectors, where splints, supports and health devices can be customised to suit a specific patient’s diagnosis. “That said, the versatility of 3D printing can be extended to a wide range of businesses in the manufacturing industry, including aerospace, automotive and consumer goods.” Robotics and cobots Robots and cobots are becoming a frequent sight in manufacturing industries in Europe and across the world. For example, in Germany alone, automotive companies are home to 1,500 robotic units for every 10,000 employees. The benefit of robots is that they can take care of a large array of tedious, physically demanding tasks while maintaining accuracy, efficiency and quality throughout. What’s more, they can help reduce wastage and breakages caused by inconsistent finishings or below-par quality products.

common solution to speed up production processes at a more favourable and affordable cost. “The beauty of this technology is that it allows businesses to create items layer by layer with computer-aided design (CAD) support. Through the help of this innovative tool, manufacturers can assemble complex designs that would otherwise be challenging and expensive to produce with more manual, conventional methods. “In this respect, 3D printing opens the door to customisations, too. Because every manufactured item is based on a digital blueprint, each product can be easily tweaked

57

www.read-tpi.com

March 2025 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL