Arc welding is a craft of high importance for industries such as automotive, construction and infrastructure. But in the digital era we currently live in, almost every process is being replaced by automation.  Arc welding is no different. 

Arc welding processes can be fully or partially automated to revolutionize production operations. The existing welding process is assessed and feasibility studies are conducted to determine which parts will be performed using a mechanical or electronic mode. 

Some functions may be programmed to work unmanned, while others may require some adjustments by an operator.

What is Arc Welding?

Arc welding is the process of fusing metal using electricity-generated high heat from an arc electrode. The materials and components of arc welding include an electrode, a work cable, power supply, the metal workpieces, and an arc. 

There are several types of arc welding process like MIG (metal inert gas) also called GMAW (gas metal arc welding), TIG (tungsten inert gas) or GTAW (gas tungsten metal arc welding) and stick or SMAW (shielded metal arc welding). All these use electricity to make the arc, and the electrode is moved along the seam to create the weld. 

Manual arc welding requires skills and dexterity to be able to produce good quality welds in terms of uniformity, texture, strength, cleanliness and integrity. Repetitive processes in production lines that require welding may result in less consistent weld quality because of various human factors like muscle fatigue and errors or material glitches, inadequacies, and failures.    

If your business heavily relies on welding processes for fabrications and you have high volume production requirements, it would be best to consider automating some or majority of your process steps.

nexAir has the KnowHow which goes beyond technology and the sale of gas and related equipment. We can help you with the right equipment and technology to transition your arc welding into a fully or partially automated system- streamlining your processes, and improving output. 

Benefits of Welding Automation

Automation may seem like a radical change for some but there is no denying the varied advantages it offers.

Better Productivity

Repetitive and routine welding tasks can be done five times faster with automation. What’s even better is that the speed does not sacrifice quality because the program path is designed to enable precision, flawlessness, and consistency in the weld work steps. 

Improved Weld Quality 

There is uniformity across all the work output because parameters and specifications are set and followed to a T by the system. Every cycle of work delivers high quality results with greater consistency. 

Enhanced Work Culture

Workers have the opportunity to learn to operate an automated system and upskill through new technology training. Some have their time freed up to learn other meaningful work in the company that is less tedious, hazardous, and physically demanding. Their nature of job evolves and it gives them an opportunity to grow. 

Greater Cost Efficiency

Investing in automation has its payback once everything is in place, starts running, and producing like clockwork. When there are less errors and greater economies of scale, production level and profitability improve. Your company will also save on labor costs and allocate the savings to other growth investments like capacity building and marketing.

Forge Forward with nexAir’s KnowHow

nexAir will be with you every step of the way from consultation to feasibility, design, installation, training, and maintenance. Our team of welding automation experts will help evaluate the most fitting and cost efficient automation system design for your process.  

If suitable for you, automation will be the game-changing shift that will help accelerate your business growth to new levels.