Linde North America has introduced two new, Lasgon H shielding gas mixtures that combine helium, hydrogen and argon in special formulations for laser welding of stainless steel with CO2 and solid state lasers. While targeting CO2 laser welding operations, the Lasgon H3 mixtures can also be applied to solid state lasers such as disc, diode and fiber lasers which, compared with CO2 gas lasers, produce light with a shorter wavelength allowing for an easier helium substitution. These solid state lasers are generally used when non-linear welding or three-dimensional welding applications require delivery of the beam through a flexible optical fiber.