TPT May 2019

I NDUS T RY

Value added engineering service ESAB’s Value Added

Engineering (VAE) service is an effective way for manufacturing companies to improve the productivity of their fabrication pro- cesses without having to sacrifice quality. In a VAE project, ESAB’s experts will analyse the cutting and welding pro- cesses, then recommend improvements and predict the cost savings that will be achieved. Depend- ing on the application, the

recommendations might include, for example, changes to filler metals, revisions to welding parameters, opera- tor training, reprogramming of welding robots, modifica- tions to joint designs or plate preparation, or switching to a different form of supply for consumables. If investment in new equipment is required, the aim is to achieve payback in a short and acceptable time frame. As part of the analysis, detailed measurements are made of relevant parameters so the VAE team can make recommendations based on hard data. However, ESAB has also made available an easy-to-use online weld cost calculator – QWPA (quick weld productivity analyser) that anyone can use to calculate the cost of existing welding processes. Manufacturing companies are sometimes not fully aware of the true cost of their welding processes; by using the QWPA they can see the cost and start to appreciate the scope for making cost savings and raising profitability by refining their welding processes. The VAE team studies all aspects of the cutting and welding processes, including material flows. However, if a customer is only concerned about one aspect of the process or one welding station, the VAE team will focus attention where the customer has requested it. The VAE experts work with the customer to ensure the recommendations can be implemented as smoothly as possible. Even customers with in-house welding engineers may find that the ESAB VAE team is able to bring a different perspective to the cutting and welding processes, resulting in new solutions being found to old productivity problems. ESAB’s own facilities can be used to trial and prove new welding procedures or different consumables, so customers can be confident that any recommended process changes will be successful. After any process improvements have been implemented, weld integrity will be as good, if not better, and there will not be any additional costs relating to, for example, extra post- weld clean-up time.

Increase yield and weld quality while reducing your downtime EHE Consumables is the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of high-frequency welding components for the tube and pipe industry. With 35 years of experience and an ISO 9001 certification , we are ideally positioned to offer our customers the best solutions available. • Impeders (through flow / return flow / manifolds / specials) • Ferrite cores • Impeder casing • Induction welding coils (coil holders / downlead assemblies) • Canticut ID scarfing systems (4.5 inch – 26 inch pipe) • OD scarfing inserts and tool holders • Edge scarfing systems • Comprehensive range of custom-built solutions • Filtration systems

www.eheconsumables.com

ESAB Group (UK) Ltd – UK Email: info@esab.co.uk Website: www.esab.co.uk

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MAY 2019