36
Improving Global Quality of Life
Through Optimum Use and Innovation of Welding and Joining Technologies
Needs and challenges
in welding and joining
technologies
5.
T
he introduction of new or high-cost welding/joining technologies (such as laser beam welding,
large scale robotic welding line etc.) into industrial production needs to be justified with economical
consideration. New and advanced joining technologies are needed in some regions or nations, while
others may need more fundamental developments to support existing technologies and still achieve higher
quality and reduced production time. Hence, needs and challenges will be identified from these perspectives.
5.1
Innovations in welding and joining processes
There is fast development of different joining technologies, which is obvious in the automotive industry
(
Figure 5.1
).
5.1.1 -
Robotic welding
Most of the joining operations will of course be made close to the major markets but also moved to the low-
labour-cost countries like China. Every country will, however, relentlessly defend its workload by introducing
more efficient processes. Robotic welding will continue to increase the productivity and quality to the
fabrication industry. In 2006 robot sales increased by 10.3 %. The problem has been that current technology
has not allowed for an efficient manner of applying robotic welding to large-scale, low-volume fabrication.
In an EU-project NOMAD this restriction has been eliminated by:
Gluing
37%
Joining the Porsche Cayenne
BIW (mm)
Joining the Audi A3
BIW (mm
Joining the Golf V
BIW (mm)
MIG/MAG
welding
3%
MIG/MAG
welding
1%
Mechanical
fixturing
3%
MIG/MAG
welding
3%
Tailored
blanks
1%
Laser
soldering
1%
Laser
soldering
1%
Other
1%
Laser welding
14%
Laser welding
3%
Gluing
37%
Resistance
spot
welding
53%
Resistance
spot
welding
53%
Laser
welding/
soldering
45%
Resistance
spot
welding
45%
Gluing
25%
Gluing
7%
Figure 5.1
Joining processes used in automobile industry (Reproduced courtesy: TWI Ltd)
