The welding industry has many things to look forward to as an essential component in many key industries, like construction, aircraft manufacturing, shipbuilding, and even defense.
Many industries can enjoy their manufactured products for a long time thanks to welding. And even if issues develop, welding is a reliable method for repair. Because of this important role, it’s just as crucial that the welding industry keeps up with the developments in these various industries.
Welding Trends
Unknown to most people, the welding industry also goes through its own phases of growth and development. New welding trends do come up every so often, usually regarding techniques for welding and cutting equipment.
One of the more recent trends in the welding industry includes the use of friction stir and laser techniques.
Friction welding is a relatively new process that combines two metal joints. It was around the 2010s when this technique was put to commercial use.
The idea is for the welding process to rely on the heat generated from the friction resulting from the welding head and the two pieces being fused. This friction actually melts the metal and then develops the weld as it cools down.
Meanwhile, laser welding also follows the same process, except that instead of friction, it relies on the heat from the laser.
Because of the speed and quality of these techniques, this trend is expected to keep going for many more years to come.
Safety Practices
Because of the work required for welding, it’s just as important to ensure that the safety practices are up to code as well. Especially with new techniques and equipment being introduced, knowing how to properly use them while keeping the welder safe is a must in the industry.
Safety equipment and protective gear should always adhere to quality requirements. Ideally, they should be designed to prevent injuries, as much as it is to protect them. In this regard, the companies are deemed responsible for ensuring that these safety gears and equipment are well provided for the welders or workers.
Welding Robots
One of the biggest advancements in the welding industry is the development of welding robots. Apart from bringing more efficiency into the workplace, it also helps improve workers’ safety. Especially for task locations that may be a bit more difficult to reach, such as in high places, sending a welding robot could be the much more viable choice.
Of course, it does have its limitations too. For one, welding robots today are only stationary so far. So if there’s anything that might need maneuvering, it could be unable to do it as well as someone manually doing it.
Further developments are expected in the following years, with the improvements most likely focused on communication and response.
These are only some of the developments in the welding industry. More are definitely on the way, and those in the industry can look for the advancements and improvements it will bring.