Joe Welder isn’t the only thing that’s been going global lately.  NEMA has just published the EW 4-2009, providing the standard for graphic symbols used in welding and cutting in the U.S.  The only difference: now it includes all of the symbols recognized internationally by the IEC TC 26 so that everyone can be, quite literally, on the same page.

NEMA Publishes Standard for Graphic Symbols for Arc Welding, Cutting Apparatus

• Mar 11, 2009

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published EW 4-2009, the first new edition in 15 years. This standard provides manufacturers and users of arc welding and cutting equipment with a system for the development and use of graphic symbols for use on their equipment. It accommodates non-English speaking and functionally illiterate workers in the United States.

In addition, globalization of the welding and cutting industry also has expanded, making it necessary for U.S.-based manufacturers to design and mark their products in a way that is more easily understood by a more linguistically and culturally diverse customer base. As a result, the new edition of EW 4 contains all pertinent graphic symbols recognized by IEC TC 26, the international standards committee for electric welding and allied processes.

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You can go to NEMA’s website to download or purchase your own copy of the EW 4-2009.

I’m going to the Essen Welding Show in Essen Germany.  Yes, that’s right, in Germany!  If you’re not familiar with the show, it is the Olympics of Welding and Metal Fabrication–  it happens every four years, and draws the best in welding and fabrication technology from around the world.

Not only will I have the opportunity to see the latest in innovation for our industry (see above), I’ll get to catch up with some colleagues as well.  It will also be a great opportunity to see what new products our international welding accessory vendors are showcasing.

Schweissen & Schneiden, the Essen Welding Show has established its position as number one in its industry. With the biggest names in the industry taking part and almost 60,000 trade buyers coming to see them Schweissen & Schneiden continues to become more international. With more than 1,000 exhibitors, the show takes place in the entire exhibition complex of more 1.1 million sq feet.

Let me know if you’ll be there! And make your plans early! Oktoberfest starts September 19– the day the show ends….

I can’t even count the number of posts we’ve made on this site about welding helmets, but I will drive home the point again.  They’re important, and can be quite stylish too, but that’s beside the point.

What one really needs to know about welding helmets (apart from the fact that you need them to protect your beautiful eyes), is how to pick them.  That’s important too.

I just found this article online over at Welding Magazine:

Welding Helmets – What you need to know before you buy

By Caleb Krisher, Product Manager for Hobart Welding Products | Aug 1, 2008 12:00 PM

On the job or in the garage, every welder needs protection to prevent eye damage.

As a general rule, spending more on a welding helmet will increase comfort, improve your welding ability, result in higher quality welds and ensure your safety.

Unfortunately, selecting a helmet can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the latest auto-darkening lens technology and national safety standards.

This article will help you sort through the clutter and point out the most important things to consider before investing in this important piece of safety gear, while showcasing some of the industry’s top trends and designs.

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I was surfing the internet and I found this great free opportunity to learn more about weld inspection. Olympus NDT has scheduled a free webinar titled “The Benefits of Phased Array in Weld Inspection.” This 45-minute event is scheduled on Tuesday, May 19, at 11:00 a.m. (EST). How can you say no to free?

The following topics will be discussed:

• How phased arrays significantly increase the speed of your weld  inspection
• Much improved imaging of the weld defects
• Highly reproducible inspections
• The keys to make your inspection more cost-effective
• Availability of wide range of instruments at various price levels
• Training takes the mystery out of phased array

This 45-minute live webinar includes a Q & A session. Attendees can register on-line here.

Mariah Power is the greenest company I’ve heard of in a long time.  They’ve got the three R’s down to a science.  For one, they’ve set up shop in what once used to be a auto parts manufacturing plant, modified to fit their needs.  Their employees?  Workers from the previous plant.  Their product? Windspire vertical-axis wind turbines, which will “recycle” wind on a small scale to provide power for homes and businesses.

Wind Turbine Company Opens New Manufacturing Plant 

Edited by: MHM Staff

MANISTEE, Mich.—Mariah Power, a wind technology company, just opened its first high-volume manufacturing site in Manistee in partnership with MasTech Manufacturing’s material handling specialists. 

The new facility, a retrofitted auto parts manufacturing plant, will produce Windspire vertical-axis wind turbines. Mariah Power will employ former automotive workers who have experience working with steel, assembly lines and robotics.

The plant will produce 100 Windspire turbines per month, and executives foresee that number growing to 1,000. Steel and aluminum required to make the turbines will be supplied to the 30,000-square foot facility by companies located in Michigan.

The Windspire is Mariah Power’s first official product line. It is a small-scale, vertical-axis wind turbine that can power homes or businesses. Standing 30 feet tall, Windspire features a “plug ‘n produce” design and connects directly to the power supply of a building. 

The big news in laser welding means big saving for your wallets.  Linde North America has just introduced two alternatives to the regular pure helium shielding gas.  Their new LASGON® H gases are a combination of argon, helium, and hydrogen designed expressly for CO2 and solid state lasers when welding stainless steel.

Linde North America introduces shielding gas mixtures

[ 23 Mar 2009, Katie Hill, gasworld.com ]

Thanks to Linde, fabricators looking for alternatives to using pure helium as a shielding gas in high power laser welding now have more options.

Linde North America, part of The Linde Group, has introduced two new, LASGON® H shielding gas mixtures that lower operating costs and increase welding speed and product quality.

The new mixtures combine helium, hydrogen and argon in special formulations for laser welding of stainless steel with CO2 and solid state lasers.

“Higher helium prices and tighter supplies have led fabricators to seek out less expensive shielding gas mixtures that enable them to maintain high product quality,” said Joe Berkmanns, Manufacturing Segment Manager, Linde North America.

“Linde’s LASGON® H product line lowers fabricators’ operating costs, while enabling them to boost productivity through higher welding speeds. What’s more, the LASGON® gas mixtures create less oxide buildup than pure noble gases, resulting in a clean, shiny weld surface. It’s truly a win-win product for the laser welder.”

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… then you should buy a new Titanium Elite™ Auto-Darkening Helmet with an “innovative aluminum heat shield protects the analog lens in most high-amperage (300+ amp) applications”.

Oh.  You thought I was going to say, “… get out of the kitchen”.  Joke’s on you then.

From MillerWelds.com:

APPLETON, Wis., April 15, 2009—In response to customer demand for a welding helmet that can better withstand high-amperage, high-heat applications, Miller Electric Mfg. Co. created the Titanium Elite™ auto-darkening helmet, a new addition to the Arc Armor™ line of welding safety products. Introduced today, the Titanium Elite directly addresses the problem of heat build-up in welding applications that require 300 amps or more, conditions that can affect the lens performance of standard auto-darkening helmets and make it uncomfortable for the welder. The Titanium Elite—the newest member of Miller’s Elite Series of auto-darkening helmets—reflects the heat away from the operator and features an aluminum heat shield to protect the auto-darkening lens. A shock-absorbing gasket, which adds durability and protection from drop impact in hard welding environments, also surrounds the lens.

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It was strange to me to learn that in the welding industry many replacement parts are referred to as “consumables” even though in fact they wear out, they are not consumed like shield gas, filler metal or a tungsten electrode….

Lincoln Electric Offers New Pipeliner® Consumables Product Catalog

This comprehensive catalog highlights everything customers need to know about Pipeliner products, including key advantages, typical applications and recommended welding procedures and positions. It also includes test results for each product’s deposit chemistry and mechanical properties.

Cleveland — Lincoln Electric has introduced a new Pipeliner^® consumables product catalog. This free catalog features the manufacturer’s complete portfolio of Pipeliner stick, solid MIG and flux-cored consumables, which are specifically designed for a wide range of pipeline applications, including root, fill and cap passes on API grade X60 through X100 pipe.

The catalog showcases Lincoln Electric’s variety of Pipeliner consumables that deliver unmatched performance characteristics, quality, consistency and reliability. It includes more than 15 cellulosic and low hydrogen vertical up and vertical down stick electrodes, solid MIG wire, and self-shielded and gas-shielded flux-cored wires.

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