TPT July 2012

Welding

Grupo Condesa invests in Thermatool solid state welder

requirements. Mr Hine continued: “We also recognise the positive investment by the Grupo Condesa and of course will continue to work closely with them to maintain their business objectives, that may see the start of further discussion to replace Valve Technology units still in operation across Europe.” Inductotherm Heating & Welding Ltd – UK

Germany. When deciding which welder in our range best met with Lorraine Tubes’ production requirements, having clear objectives and open communication from the Rettel and Lexy plant managers (where Thermatool also has welders) was invaluable.” The latest in a string of high profile global references shows a continuing trend and strength in Thermatool’s full range of high power, low power and fixed to selectable variable frequency welders that can be configured to meet all tube production also pointed out that the new welding machine comes with Intelligent Gas Control – IGC. All the features of the popular Sigma2 welding machine are also included in the Sigma Galaxy. It has all the good features of the last generation and more, says Mr Jørgensen. The machine is structured with a strong computer monitoring the welding processes in real time: 50,000 times per second. That is intelligent control. It used to be the user who controlled the welding process, but now the machine is built for the world that we live in. The first welding machines, practically consisting of a couple of spools, needed full control. The next welding machine generation required some more knowledge and was able to help the user a little more. Now the welding machine knows everything and compensates for the users’ differences, added Mr Jørgensen. Users’ varying feeding speed is also compensated for. Welders are widely different when they work – some have the torch right down in the weld pool, while others keep the torch at a distance, and other welders’ hands may be shaking a little. It used to require a very skilful welder to control the welding process if the weld pool suddenly changed. The new welding process allows for these situations, says Migatronic engineer Jesper Skovfo. Lower heat-input, better control of the weld pool and less distortion are the result of the improved arc stability of the

GRUPO Condesa has confirmed its investment with Thermatool for a new high frequency, solid state 900kW contact welder, for future increased production at its Lorraine Tubes Rettel operation in France, in August 2012. Thermatool product manager Wayne Hine said: “This is recognised as a significant order for Thermatool and confirmation of the confidence, reliability, reputation and service capabilities Thermatool can deliver, supported by its growing European offices in France and MIGATRONIC hopes more welders will now get a chance to achieve the best results with its newest welding process setting new standards in welding. Migatronic R&D manager Anders Hjarnø Jørgensen said the IAC (Intelligent Arc Control) is a new welding process in the Sigma Galaxy welding machine. Sigma Galaxy is one of the Danish welding machine manufacturer’s top of the line welding machines within the Sigma range. The interaction between user and welding machine expresses itself in IAC welding process. The company’s motto is still “Switch on, press and weld” but customers have also asked for a number of other features such as less application of heat to the welding, improved stability, less weld spatter and, if possible, even faster welding, says the R&D manager. He

Email: info@inductothermhw.com Website: www.inductothermhw.com Sigma Galaxy welding machine

new welding process. Less weld spatter gives a nicer finish and the root passes will no longer cause the usual problems for the welders. You can easily have a situation where the heat accumulation changes during the process of a multipass welding or the joining of thick and thin plates. All problematic situations are taken into account now and sheet metal welding becomes a piece of cake; it will almost be like filling up the wire. The welder no longer balances on a knife edge in these situations, says product manager Torben Henriksen. The precise control of the welding process helps to maintain the mechanical properties of the material, and the metallurgic strength of the parent material has been changed as little as possible. The purely electronic solution in the Migatronic Sigma Galaxy reduces maintenance and service requirements to a minimum, and the possibility of software update is a matter of course. This makes the machine more applicable as opposed to the less flexible mechanical welding solutions that require more space. The power source is ready for assembly with robots and the interface meets users’ requirements for quick changeover and optional choice of control of the welding process. It is also optimised to reduce energy intake.

Migatronic – Denmark Website: www.migatronic.dk

Intelligent Arc Control

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July 2012