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Welding is a joining method that often delivers joints cheaper, faster, and with better mechanical and chemical properties than riveting or bolting. Some applications allow for automation, using robots or mechanical devices to produce miles of welds a day. However, this is not always the case. Geometry and scale, for example, are two of the factors that may force a manufacturer to rely on manual welding. When that happens, some new risks ensue. In this article, we are going to explore a few welding concepts and have a glimpse into some of the common challenges associated with manual welding.

Work is picking up in Arizona. The TSCM Taiwan Semi-Conductor Manufacturing Company job is expected to last for several years. This is a large job that will employ up to 500 Union Ironworkers. Another job that has started is the Lucid Motors factory in the nearby city of Casa Grande will employ 200 ironworkers, and a new Intel factory is slated to begin construction in early 2022, employing up to 300 ironworkers. The Ironworkers International Union is the entity that supplies trained ironworkers to the steel erection industry in the United States and Canada.

Heat transfer equipment is one of the many important uses of stainless steel, especially in the oil and gas industry. Lead Heat Transfer Engineer at Technip Energies, Paul Miller, spoke with Stainless Steel World Americas about the processes and testing involved with stainless steels, and material selection for heat exchangers.

The market for air, water, and energy products used in blood plasma fractionation, and the development of drugs derived from the plasma, is approaching $5 billion per year. Alongside this, the market for AWE stainless products is approaching $80 million dollars per year

Durable, hygienic, and recyclable; the three reasons why stainless steel never loses its demand. Aside from resistance to staining and corrosion, the majority of stainless steel applications are focused on making products that need a long life. From wristwatches to spaceships, the applications of stainless steel are limitless. The iconic Chrysler Building in New York, which is now more than 80 years old, is a great example of a long life of stainless steel.

Gerald Solano has been working in the welding industry for over 35 years. Currently, he is the Senior Technical Advisor on Welding Technology for KBR, a world-renowned engineering company, and is also a current AWS Senior Certified Welding Inspector.

Today, experienced machinists, fabricators, machine shop owners, and OEMs use their trade skills and experience to shape and reshape the world we live in. In all cases, the question is not, can they machine complex metal parts and components, but rather, can they do it efficiently for their customers and profitably for their employers?

A machine shop in Finland uses machinability-improved 316L bar to boost cutting speeds and improve chip breakage. A fabricator of mechanical seals in Texas switches to a specially tailored 2205 grade of duplex stainless steel in hollow bar to triple turnaround times.

The world GDP is over $80 trillion, and more than $15 trillion of that is spent on food. Sugar purchases alone account for over $1 trillion of this GDP. There is also a high percentage of food revenues spent on stainless steel materials within this industry, as critical and severe service needs are required.

Did you know that every metal has its own unique personality, nuances, quirks, and mannerisms? Did you know that a welder should be a kind of ‘metal-psychiatrist’ to be able to do the welding job correctly? This is something that Travis Field of Legion Piping Fabricators, has become acutely aware of during his career.