ELCo Enterprises Inc. — a Michigan-based provider of welding wire products, torches, and cell support equipment — has always prided itself on supporting veterans in any way it can. The company was founded by a veteran, employs veterans, honors those who served, and has benefited from its association with the armed forces.

Stay informed, connected, trained, certified, and challenged. AWS offers a wide range of industry events that support your business needs and keep your team members at the top of their game. 

Multipass welding increases critical weld strength in applications where failure could be catastrophic, including heavy-duty structural fabrication and pipelines and pressure vessel fabrication. Proper preparation and cleaning are critical for attaining quality welds.

Learn about handheld tools and automated systems that can help you cut, shape, and remove material fast and efficiently.

On October 4–6, the brazing and soldering industry gathered in Denver, Colo., to share research, innovations, and fellowship at the 2021 International Brazing and Soldering Conference (IBSC). 

If you're new to the inspection world or just looking to become a better inspector, you have a unique opportunity to make connections, gain knowledge that can boost your career, and keep your inspections business on the cutting edge during the Inspection Expo & Conference (IEC), taking place February 23-25, 2022, in beautiful Fort Worth, Texas.

Welding metallurgy is a critical component in infrastructure projects, but it’s often not completely understood among certain communities. With greater knowledge of welding processes and techniques, design-build teams may save money, reduce project liability, and improve profitability.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted the manufacturing and industrial landscape in the United States. As we emerge from it, the shortages and supply chain shocks prevalent in its early stages have generated renewed federal interest in reshoring manufacturing capabilities. New processing and control tools will impact much of the landscape that will arise from this planned reinvestment. Significant enhancements in computing power have driven the development of many advanced manufacturing routes enabled by machine learning, artificial intelligence, mechanistic modeling, and process automation.

Linde announced that its U.S. welding, industrial, medical and specialty gas distribution business, Praxair Distribution Inc., legally changed its name to Linde Gas & Equipment Inc., effective October 11. At the same time, Linde Gas North America LLC merged into the new company. The change capitalizes on the strength of the Linde name and aligns with the One Linde philosophy adopted when Linde AG and Praxair, Inc. merged in October 2018.

Welders depend on a multitude of tools to achieve their jobs, but the most important of these tools is personal protective equipment (PPE). Ranging from respirators to flame-resistant clothing, these new PPE can safeguard welders against the hazards present in the workplace.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, many have reflected on the ways in which COVID-19 has completely changed the way companies do business as well as their workflow processes.

The pandemic has uprooted day-to-day routines and affected the ability of companies, large and small, to operate effectively. Businesses have had to adjust on the fly, shifting to remote work and streamlining their processes to stay afloat. But beyond profit and job losses, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of domestic manufacturing, revealing the warning signs of what might happen should it not receive proper funding.

Learn how to comply with the requirements of ASME Section IX, Welding, Brazing, and Fusing Qualifications during the How to Use ASME Section IX Conference, taking place October 26-28, 2021, in Miami, Fla.; and December 7-8, 2021 in Houston, Tex. 

An inside glance at what it takes to make these intricate samples.

Even experienced operators make mistakes that can impact cut quality and consumable life. Many of the most common plasma-cutting and consumable issues can be avoided altogether by following the eight tips outlined in this article.

Dynetics Technical Solutions, Huntsville, Ala., is claiming to operate the largest electron beam welding system in the Western Hemisphere that enables its partners in the aerospace, defense, and commercial industries to manufacture with speed, scale, and quality.

The 2021 International Brazing and Soldering Conference (IBSC) Conference will take place October 3–6 in Denver, Colo., as an in-person event.

The second American Welding Society (AWS) Women in Welding Conference was held virtually and focused on welding engineering.

High school welding apprentices at John Deere’s Davenport, Iowa, and Moline, Illinois, facilities got a surprise this summer. In addition to learning pulse welding, laying the perfect bead, and mastering weld sizes, Deere required their apprentices to take a communications course through a partnership with Iowa State University’s (ISU) English Department. Apprentice Ana Burke welding. 

On October 21, 2021, the American Welding Society is hosting "Tipos de Inspecciones para Soldadura Estructural," the first-ever Spanish-language AWS conference.

A significant value stream can be achieved by recovering brazed components after their life cycle.

With the Netflix premiere of the Metal Shop Masters series on September 10, welding and cutting now have a spotlight in mainstream entertainment programming.

IPG adds unique laser cleaning capabilities to the LightWELD handheld welder to provide fabricators better weld quality and simplified part finishing.

A review of product codes, standards, and personnel certification programs related to welding inspection in this challenging geographical area.

Newly released products for the brazing and soldering industry.

The evolution of electronics and devices must keep pace to meet today’s operator challenges. As technology in the electronics industry rapidly advances, electronic devices are getting smaller, faster, and more functional. Advanced printed circuit boards (PCBs) are now double-sided with stacked multiple layers. Thus, they are far more complex than conventional PCB designs and contain more components in tighter spaces, creating high-density interconnect (HDI) PCB configurations.

The advantages of using grinding wheels are widely known. However, when grinding wheels that spin at thousands of revolutions per minute (RPM) are damaged or misused, they can break into bullet-like fragments, leading to injury. Grinding safety is a vast subject, with seemingly limitless tips, but the following offers just a few key guidelines to keep top of mind.

The American Welding Society is gearing up for FABTECH 2021. And with all the AWS events taking place during the show, we invite you to start planning your FABTECH schedule to make the most out of our booths, networking events, and much more.

Electrogas welding is an arc welding process that uses an arc between a continuous filler metal electrode and the weld pool. Continue reading this article to learn much more, including advantages and limitations.

Dive into the latest naval news making waves — from contracts for the manufacture of naval nuclear reactor components and fuel to a dive tank for multiple subsea applications — and so much more.

As the world of welding, manufacturing, and fabrication continues to evolve and become more competitive, the success of any organization often hinges on the strength of its salesforce. As part of a continuing effort to create resources and training opportunities for our industry, the American Welding Society (AWS) launched "Solution Selling for Welding," an online course designed to help develop highly knowledgeable and effective sales personnel.

Transfer modes for gas metal arc welding (GMAW) play an important role in the level of quality and productivity that can be gained in a welding operation.

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) welcomed more than 1400 registrants from around the world to the 19^th annual Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) symposium. 2021 marked the symposium’s first virtual event.

As a welding instructor, I have often dreamt about opening my own welder training facility but have always looked at it as an unobtainable dream. I can’t even begin to imagine how would I prepare myself to make my very own school a reality. With this in mind, I thought I would love to talk to someone with first-hand experience — so I asked Scott Raabe, who recently did the very thing I find so unobtainable in starting Precision Welding Academy, Katy, Tex. He gave me a glimpse into his teaching styles and what it takes to open a training facility.

Cunningham of North Carolina was announced as the AWS Take the Torch campaign winner. He won a custom AWS welding helmet.

Find out how using CAD models can help you create and verify modular fixturing designs for increased efficiency in the workshop.

Most components produced by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 manufacturers are welded using robots, but the majority of the welds are still manually visually inspected.

Recently released products designed to increase quality and productivity for a variety of automotive applications.

Like many industries, the shipbuilding trade is navigating rough waters. An increasingly difficult business environment from consolidation, slowing growth rates, and uncertain political waters, combined with a critical shortage of workers as well as the global COVID-19 pandemic, has left many shipbuilders struggling to survive.

Join brazing and soldering professionals at the 2021 International Brazing and Soldering Conference (IBSC).

Professional and amateur welders alike demand high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) and gloves — and for good reason.

After almost two years of missed connections and collaborations, FABTECH 2021 convenes in Chicago, IL., on September 13-16, 2021. And the American Welding Society is pleased to announce its plans for the four-day event.

Here’s a range of recent news from Toyota Motor Corp., Toyota City, Japan; Ford Motor Co., Detroit, Mich.; Alcoa Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa.; BMW Mfg., Spartanburg, S.C.; and General Motors (GM), Detroit, Mich.

Life is full of unexpected turns. For Sarah Stork, moving to a farm in Georgetown, Tex., proved to be the catalyst that launched her career as a metal artist.

John Deere, Moline, Ill., is utilizing Intel’s artificial intelligence (AI) technology, piloting a solution that uses computer vision to automatically spot common defects in the automated welding process in its manufacturing facilities.

Nondestructive examination plays an important role in equipment diagnosis during the maintenance of welded structures. However, inspection using ultrasonic flaw detection can be difficult or even impossible if the weld is inaccessible. The good news is that new remote visual inspection (RVI) technologies have been developed that enable highly efficient and accurate weld inspection. Testing methods are also diversifying.

On March 25, in honor of Women’s History Month, more than 200 professionals gathered around their computers to attend the first-ever Women in Welding Conference.

More than 70 years after first entering service, hundreds of vintage Chipmunk airplanes remain airworthy around the world, mainly as trainer aircraft. Repair and maintenance of many of their components remain a challenge due to lack of components as well as process temperature sensitivity. Fortunately, there is cold spray, a solid-state metal consolidation process that can be used to dimensionally restore components made of materials that are highly sensitive to elevated process temperatures.

Copper, the first metal manipulated by humans to make everything from tools to jewelry, is now making headlines for another reason — its antimicrobial properties.

Meet Kayla Johnson — a 26-year-old journeywoman welder who is not only respected for her quality work but is also a woman who wants to inspire other females to join the trade.

Welding is among the most crucial and essential skilled trades that impact everyday life, yet the number of skilled welding technicians and professionals continues to decrease. It is anticipated that by 2024, over 300,000 welders will be necessary to satisfy our nation’s workforce demands (Emsi, 2021). To impact this decline, the American Welding Society has launched a new initiative targeting students and early career welders, titled "AWS Certified."

Hypertherm, a U.S.-based manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, announced recipients of its 2021 Spark Something Great educational grant.

Handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers, more commonly called handheld XRF or HHXRF, are useful tools for installing new or replacement sections in a welding project. Here are three best practices to perform accurate weld analysis with HHXRF analyzers.

This article informs of products that are designed to increase productivity for a variety of applications involving pipe and tube, including transporting, heating, cutting, and welding.

Like their logo that reflects a welding helmet surrounded by bright yellow, orange, red, purple, and blue flowers, the Latinas Welding Guild Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., blossoms.

The American Welding Society (AWS) is pleased to introduce a new pathway for certain IIW diploma holders to achieve the AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) credential, through the “CWI by IIW Waiver” program.

Critical pipe welding applications often require preheating and possibly postweld heat treatment to reduce the chances of cracking. Learning different methods and proper application of welding preheat can help save time and money.

Millennials represent more than a quarter of the world’s population. To help foster the next generation of young professionals in the welding industry, the American Welding Society is proud to announce a new membership initiative — Take the Torch.

The American Welding Society (AWS), Miami, Fla., recently launched the AWS ARCademy video series.

Nondestructive examination (NDE) techniques range from simple manual and visual tests to sophisticated technologies that can detect surface and subsurface flaws, porosity, variations in metallurgical structure, and other discontinuities without having to destroy, damage, or waste assets. 

This year, IRONMAN competitors in St. George, Utah, will have more than cheering fans waiting for them at the finish line. An M-dot sculpture crafted by Rick Prazen and his son, Josh, will greet them in a roundabout near the end of the race.

April is National Welding Month. In its honor, AWS is offering several promotions and activities.

To conduct inspections, professionals rely on a variety of tools that allow them to assess the quality of a component and its suitability for an intended application.

Production technology company TRUMPF, Ditzingen, Germany, delivered a global experience with its virtual INTECH 2021 exhibition held on March 22 and 23. Approximately 3000 people from around the world registered for the in-house trade show, which highlighted the company’s newest sheet-metal fabrication and laser technologies.

Resistance welding is one of the most robust, proven and simple of the various welding processes, and is used primarily in the manufacture of automobiles, appliances, wire products, sheet metal products, and more.

Through April 30, the Welding Equipment Manufacturers Committee (WEMCO), in partnership with the American Welding Society (AWS) Foundation, is accepting nominations for the 2021 Excellence in Welding Awards.

ABB has launched a weekly podcast series featuring experts from industry and academia to explore the cutting edge of robotics and is also introducing two next generation collaborative robots (cobots).

Asnuntuck Community College has become an American Welding Society (AWS) Accredited Test Facility (ATF) in Connecticut. Students enrolled in the college’s welding program will have an opportunity to earn certifications.

Iowa-based Gail Chavenelle is proof that it’s never too late to embark on a new adventure. At the age of 50, the former school teacher became a full-time metal sculptor.

Richard Prazen, a blacksmith and metal sculptor in South Jordan, Utah, has honed this skill with more than 55 years in the welding and manufacturing industry. In his hands, pieces of metal come to life as soaring eagles and giant spiders.

Hypertherm, Hanover, N.H., a manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, is accepting applications for its Spark Something Great educational grant program.

This ambitious, 27-year-old CWI has put his trade talents to good use. Do you have a cup of coffee to sip on while reading this profile? If not, go get one or fetch your favorite beverage to enjoy alongside learning about Cole Warner.  

The process of converting aluminum ore into the aluminum that we know and use every day was discovered relatively recently.

The benefits of incorporating portable laser vision inspection into a weld quality system are discussed.

To achieve long-lasting performance out of your gas metal arc gun, inspect its liners, tips and other essential components.

Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is an arc welding process that uses an arc between a continuously fed consumable electrode and the weld pool. The process is used along with shielding from an externally supplied gas and without the application of pressure.

Explore the challenges encountered with small-diameter orbital weld inspection.

Ford Motor Co. is targeting production of 100 million medical-grade masks through 2021, General Motors has received N95 certification under NIOSH, and a partnership between Honda and GM is producing hand sanitizer.

Highlighting the strength of this market, and the high demand for arc welding products, 2020 and 2021 saw the release of many products designed to simplify arc welding.

The hazards of confined spaces and the processes necessary to work in them safely are outlined

The COVID-19 pandemic has differing impacts on businesses of all types across all industries.

Are you an author with materials joining technology and processes research to share with the world? Submit your abstract to be considered for presentation during the American Welding Society (AWS) Professional Program held virtually September 20–23, the week after FABTECH 2021.