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Flowserve to acquire Canadian industrial valve maker Velan for $245 million

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Flowserve Corporation (“Flowserve”), a leading provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, and Velan Inc. (“Velan”), a leading manufacturer of highly engineered industrial valves, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Flowserve will acquire Velan in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $245 million (C$329 million), including the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding Velan equity for approximately $209 million (C$281 million) and the assumption of approximately $36.3 million (C$48.9 million) in outstanding gross debt as of November 30, 2022. Flowserve will also assume Velan’s $31.4 million (C$42.2 million) of cash and cash equivalents, also as of November 30, 2022. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2023.

Founded in Montreal in 1950, Velan is a leading manufacturer of industrial valves with a strong presence in the nuclear, cryogenic and defence markets. Velan is a family-controlled business, with a team of 1,650 people and manufacturing facilities in nine countries. Through its fiscal third quarter ended November 30, 2022, Velan reported trailing twelve-month revenues of approximately $380 million with reported EBITDA of approximately $21 million. Upon completion of the transaction, Velan will become part of Flowserve’s Flow Control Division (FCD) segment. Velan adds significant value within Flowserve’s existing valves portfolio and further builds upon Flowserve’s existing assets through the addition of Velan’s premier brands, strong heritage and technical expertise in attractive and diverse structural steel fabrication markets. The additional scale, footprint consolidation and procurement opportunities provided by the combination is expected to result in substantial synergies. Further, the transaction is expected to increase Flowserve’s aftermarket potential, based on the large installed base of Velan products and the expansive network of Flowserve’s Quick Response Centers (QRCs.)

In addition to revenue synergies created through a global aftermarket footprint, Flowserve expects to realize approximately $20 million (C$26 million) of run-rate cost synergies within two years after close. The transaction is expected to be accretive to Flowserve’s adjusted EPS in the first full year following close. Including anticipated synergies, the economics imply an EBITDA multiple of less than 7x. “We are excited about the opportunity to add Velan and its talented team to the Flowserve family,” said Scott Rowe, Flowserve’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “With its strong positioning in the nuclear, cryogenic, industrial and defence markets and highly complementary product portfolio, the addition of Velan furthers our Diversification, Decarbonization and Digitization (3D) strategy. The transaction also meets our disciplined financial criteria, bringing meaningful aftermarket revenue and synergy opportunities.”

Velan’s Chairman of the Board and of its Special Committee, James Mannebach, commented, “This agreement is the culmination of an extensive and robust review of strategic options to maximize shareholder value and reflects the incredible efforts of our team members to serve customers with a focus on innovation – such as rapid prototyping –  and excellence. The transaction provides Velan shareholders an opportunity to realize an immediate and attractive premium for their shares and is recommended by the Board of Directors and Special Committee of Velan. We see a very bright future for Velan as part of Flowserve’s leading global flow control business, and we look forward to working closely with their team to quickly integrate and realize the significant benefits of this complementary combination.”

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U.S. Steel to drop National Labour Relations Board complaint against United Steelworkers

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U.S. Steel plans to withdraw the unfair-labour-practice complaint it filed against the United Steelworkers during a contentious round of negotiations. In September, Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel filed complaints with the National Labour Relations Board against USW and USW Local 1066 in Gary, which represents workers on the west side of the Gary Works steel mill. It charged that the company was bargaining in good faith but did not receive a response to its proposal, which it said was “best for all.” The union held out for a better deal in line with what Cleveland-Cliffs workers got and ultimately negotiated one that workers overwhelmingly approved. The four-year deal includes 5% raises for each of the next four years, or more than 21% compounded over the life of the contract, as well as a lump-sum bonus of $4,000.

“From the start of negotiations with the United Steelworkers, our goal was to reach an agreement that was responsible and served the interests of all stakeholders including pipe fabrication companies, the communities in which we operate, our customers and shareholders,” U.S. Steel spokeswoman Amanda Malkowski said. “There was a period of 28 days in which the USW did not return to the bargaining table. The union had a legal duty to bargain an agreement with U.S. Steel at reasonable times and places throughout this time frame but refused. After we filed the complaint, the USW quickly returned to negotiations, and we were able to reach a satisfactory agreement — albeit later in the year than originally anticipated.”

U.S. Steel said the complaint is no longer necessary because an agreement was reached. “Now that the agreement is ratified, we believe withdrawing the charge is the best decision so our employees and management can focus on continuing to deliver profitable steel fabrication solutions that are best for people and planet,” Malkowski said. The National Labor Relations Board must still agree to withdraw the filing. The union dismissed the charges as “frivolous and shameful,” saying “it was USS who said that we were too far apart and they could not respond” and “we’ve made it clear we’re available to meet and bargain fairly.” The sides had been at a stalemate long after the USW reached a deal with Cleveland-Cliffs, with U.S. Steel proposing lower wages in view of increased labour costs than the pattern agreement, which the USW said went against decades of precedent and refused to accept.

The new deal runs through September 2026 and covers 11,000 steelworkers at 13 union locals across the United States, including at the Gary Works steel mill and the Midwest Plant in Portage. It includes an additional holiday, new parental leave, improved vacation, stronger retirement benefits and improvements to health care with no premiums. It preserved the profit-sharing plan that got steelworkers tens of thousands of dollars more in their pockets in recent years. USW members at Northwest Indiana mill will continue to get 7.5% on profits between $10 and $50 of profit per ton shipped and 15% on profits above $50 a ton. U.S. Steel also pledged to invest $1 billion in its steel mills over the next four years, an investment the union seeks in such agreements to ensure safety and security at the workplace, with the thought that the company wouldn’t walk away from capital it has sunk into its facilities.

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Overview of Hopper and Tank Fabrication

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Post the manufacture of products and materials like food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals etc., transportation is the next step in the process towards ensuring products reaching the end customer. In this regard, hoppers and tanks have wide applications in industries where the top priority is to keep the products or materials sterile. Apart from transportation, they also play vital roles in storage and handling and hence, are in great demand. So, how does the fabrication process of hoppers and tanks facilitate product transportation and what are its benefits in this regard? This blog will look to explore this topic in greater detail.

Stainless Steel Benefits

Stainless steel has multiple application in industry, for example steel fabrication in popular in mining. It is the perfect choice for hoppers and tanks to hold gases, chemicals, beverages, foods and different liquids. It is very flexible this makes it the perfect material for building large industrial storage equipment. Stainless steel does not need higher thickness to build strength. Moreover, stainless steel resists the rust and different types of corrosion that may happen when the substance gets constantly exposed to different liquids.

Stainless steel has a high resistance to heat. Therefore, it can easily hold up against high temperature or sudden heat rise. These properties make it a perfect material for heat induction bending services and for constructing parts of the furnace, such as the boiler rooms, lining ovens etc. There is no change to the properties nor the strength of the steel even when exposed to higher temperatures of the furnace.

Quality of Hoppers and Tanks

Quality is of utmost importance during tank and hopper fabrication. In most cases, only companies having wide experience and knowledge possess the capability and resources to build hoppers and tanks that could pass the strict requirements and standards mandated by the administration for medical, EPA, and food facilities and manufacturers. With the best fabrication companies, the customer can expect top class products custom-made to perfectly fit industry requirements. These companies do all the tank and hopper fabrication work in- house at their workshop. As result, there is faster and more efficient delivery of orders. While operating under strict industry standards, reputed companies design, cut and fabricate the stainless steel to create hoppers for multiple industries. They also possess the technology to maintain the strict hygiene and safety requirements for the food and drug industry.

The custom-made stainless-steel fabrication combines traditional forge and hammer methods with the latest technologies such as AutoCAD, water jet cutting, and plasma cutting to create industry-grade tanks and hoppers. These modern technologies ensure accuracy related to the tank and hopper fabrication. This helps to accurately anticipate the kind of end product that a customer would receive.

Features and Applications

Stainless steel tanks and hoppers are versatile, possess a safe and contained method of storing powder, customizable for variety of applications and are FDA compliant. Common shapes of stainless-steel hoppers and tanks include wedge, cone or pyramid shapes. Stainless steel hoppers are created with interior specific applications. Therefore, the inner portion of the tank or the hopper is built to accommodate sensitive ingredients and to handle most of the weight, pressure and temperature. Multiple methods are utilized in hopper fabrication like sawing, steel laser cutting, rolling, machining and welding.

Last Thoughts

As the use of hoppers and tanks becomes more widespread, fabrication has an increasingly important part to play in ensuring precision and fitment without compromising on effectiveness in industry. This blog highlights that experienced and knowledgeable firms can leverage fabrication properly for hoppers and tanks; thus, quality of work is very important in this regard. With growth in manufacturing, hopper and tank fabrication is poised to take a giant leap forward!

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Structural Metal Product Manufacturing Industry in Australia

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As the world emerges from the debilitating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, an important and interesting feature to be analyzed is whether manufacturing demand would increase proportionately, specifically metal and steel fabrication and manufacturing. Focusing on Australia specifically, the demand trend can be analyzed to better understand whether the beleaguered metal manufacturing industry is likely to receive a boost in coming months. This article will dive deeper in this topic and will cover the likely drivers of this industry from an Australian perspective.

Demand from Building Construction

Commercial and Industrial: The commercial and industrial building construction market is an important source of demand for a range of structural metal products, such as metal security doors and shutters, staircases, balustrades and curtain walls. Greater activity in these construction markets boosts demand for many industry products, for example the use of I-beams in structural steel construction. Demand from commercial and industrial building construction in Australia has fallen in 2020-21, threatening industry performance.

Residential: Residential building construction represents one of the most important sources of demand for structural metal products. House and apartment building construction generates demand for a range of industry products, including window and door frames, fly screen doors, metal balustrades, and shutters and garage doors. Demand from residential building construction in Australia has declined in 2020-21, thus negatively affecting the industry.

Downstream Construction Markets

Declining demand from the residential building and heavy and civil engineering construction markets has weakened industry expansion over the past five years. Firms that construct buildings such as houses, apartments, hotels, offices and factories require a range of structural metal products such as garage doors, curtain walls, pressure vessels and metal door and window systems. Demand from the Australian Institutional Building Construction industry has increased over the five years, largely due to PPP-funded buildings for education, healthcare and aged-care. Institutional buildings such as schools, libraries, courthouses and hospitals are important markets for metal door and window systems, awnings and shutters. However, growth in commercial building construction activity has made this market more significant to the industry compared with institutional building.

Industry Competition

Industry products are forecast to become increasingly vulnerable to competition from substitute products over the next five years. Substitute products, such as structural timber, aluminum and plastic, share many desirable characteristics with steel products, while also being lighter and often cheaper. These substitute products are increasingly gaining acceptance in Australia as a more efficient and aesthetically-pleasing alternative to steel products. Consequently, the rising popularity of these products is projected to negatively affect demand for industry products over the period.

Key Markets

Residential building construction is expected to drive the Australian metal product manufacturing industry expansion over the next few years, with the construction of houses boosting demand for garage doors, windows and door frames. Furthermore, the construction of large multi-unit apartments and townhouses in major capital cities, such as Melbourne and Sydney, is also anticipated to support demand for the industry. Rising disposable incomes are also forecast to increase customer demand, which may be a challenge for the fabrication and manufacturing industries. Since the industry is highly fragmented, small-scale manufacturers tend to focus on specific product segments rather than diversifying their manufacturing capacity.

Conclusion

A question may arise as to how non-building construction companies in Australia contribute to the metal product manufacturing industry? While there is a demand for industry products for mineral and energy infrastructure construction, transportation construction etc., declining capital expenditure spends has reduced industry revenue in recent years. The demand from the residential building construction market remains the strongest driver of industry performance and it is hoped that a recovery of demand in this sector comes sooner rather than later!

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U.S. Floats New Steel, Aluminum Tariffs Based On Carbon Emissions

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In addition to looking to decarbonize the oil and gas industry, U.S. officials are proposing to levy tariffs on steel and aluminum based on how much carbon the producing country’s industries emit. This is part of a bid to fight climate change and “dirty” metals made in China and elsewhere, two people familiar with the plan said on Wednesday.

U.S. steelmakers claim to have the world’s lowest carbon emissions levels, in part because 70% of American steel is made from scrap iron in electric-arc furnaces rather than smelting iron ore in coal-fired blast furnaces. Steelmakers elsewhere, including in Europe, rely more heavily on coal, and the plan as proposed would be advantageous to U.S. producers to leverage sustainable manufacturing, such as battery electric vehicles. The U.S.-EU talks on low-carbon steel have been aimed in large part at China, which relies on coal for most of its steel output as well as low-grade iron ore that contributes to high carbon emissions.

If implemented, the plan would provide new grounds for excluding Chinese steel from Western markets. Most U.S. tariffs are currently based on anti-dumping laws to combat pricing below production costs, laws aimed at combating unfair government subsidies or laws aimed at safeguarding strategic industries. The proposal from the U.S. Trade Representative’s office to be negotiated with the European Union would create a global “club” of market-oriented countries seeking to reduce carbon emissions. The plan would set “emissions intensity” standards for the production of specific steel and aluminum and products, according to a document describing the plan seen by Reuters.

Countries that are members of the “global arrangement” with emissions exceeding these standards would pay higher tariffs when exporting metals to countries with lower emissions, according to the document. Countries with steel and aluminum fabrication plant emissions at or below those of the importing country would pay no carbon-based tariffs. “There would be an advantage of being in the club, as it would provide a lower level of carbon tariffs, while countries outside the club would pay higher tariffs,” one of the sources said, adding that the proposal aimed to incentivize investments to reduce emissions. “This is all very conceptual and there’s a lot of work ahead on this. The details are going to be very important.”

Countries outside the low-emissions club would be subject to a higher rate of tariffs when exporting steel and aluminum to member countries. The proposal, which is now being shared with industry and EU officials, has grown out of U.S.-EU discussions on “green” steel production over the past year after Washington halted tariffs on EU-produced steel and aluminum in exchange for a quota system. The two sides agreed to work to reduce carbon emissions in steel and aluminum production of heavy steel fabrication companies while tackling the longstanding problem of excess capacity in the industries, much of it centered in China. The proposed low-emissions metals club would exclude China and other “non-market” economies dominated by state-owned or state-directed enterprises, setting out criteria to prohibit member countries from contributing to the problem of unviable excess steel and aluminum capacity. A USTR spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the plan.

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History of Iron Casting

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Cast iron has been used in metal work since the Bronze Age. The process has been refined over time to develop castings that were both strong and resilient, with less susceptibility to breakage. Castings were formed by pouring molten metal into a sand or clay mold. Since each component could be easily accounted for and cast separately, this method was ideal for mass-producing a limited number of products. This blog will map the history of casting iron and how it has developed through the ages from its use in ancient civilizations to the innovations brought about by the Industrial Revolution.

Iron Casting in Early Days

Ancient Egypt: The Hittites of ancient Egypt are credited with discovering the metal iron between 5000 and 3000 BCE. In this period, tools and weapons were made by pounding or hammering metal. The Hittites refined the method of smelting iron between 2000 and 1200 BCE, heating the ore to remove impurities and thus increasing the metal’s utility.

Iron Age: Much of Europe, Asia, and Africa entered the Iron Age when they began to produce iron and steel tools and weapons. Though iron may have been smelted occasionally during the Bronze Age as a primitive sheet metal fabrication technique, it was likely viewed as subpar at the time. As a result, iron tools and weapons weren’t as robust or durable as their bronze equivalents.

Persian Empire: Once mankind had mastered steel, it led to the Persians developing their weaponry and this was significant towards building of their empire. Compared to their bronze or stone counterparts, steel swords were sharper and more durable; however there were more safety hazards attached to metal fabrication during this period.

Casting in China: Cast components made from bronze and copper by Chinese metallurgists were once employed extensively in China’s agriculture sector. The introduction of the iron plough greatly facilitated the process of ploughing in agricultural settings. In 645 BCE, China began utilizing sand molding and this made a substantial impact on the iron casting process.

Later Developments

Blast Furnace: The blast furnace was another technological breakthrough invented in China where iron was refined before being utilized to create steel. In Europe, the blast furnace was originally used in Sweden, then spread to France and Belgium in the 1300s and finally to England in 1491.

America Iron Works: The Virginia Company of London built North America’s first iron foundries in 1619. The Saugus Iron Works, located in what is now Lynn, Massachusetts, was the first iron foundry in the Americas in 1642. The first iron casting in the United States, the Saugus pot, was created in this area as well and was used to develop mining plant and equipment.

Britain: The 1700s saw a flurry of innovations, the first of which was in 1709 when Abraham Darby used a coke-fired furnace to process iron instead of charcoal – thus playing a pivotal role in the development of the iron casting industry. James Watt created the steam engine in the late 1700s that could be used to power machines, locomotives, and ships. This improved the speed and efficiency with which raw materials and finished commodities could be transported using tanks throughout the iron casting industry.

Closing Remarks

As can be observed, the iron casting industry came a long way since its introduction in the ancient civilizations of China and Mesopotamia. War played a part in boosting the industry in recent times, with iron production in Britain increased between 1793 – 1815 in response to rising demand from the military. As of recently, Britain had the highest rate of iron and steel production in Europe. The innovation of iron casting techniques had a profound impact on the country’s economy and way of life – and was one of the major factors behind the rise and rise of the British Empire!

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Sheet Metal Fabrication in Medical Industry

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The applications of metal fabrication in industries like structural steel construction are well-known. However, metal equipment and devices are an integral part of any industry, and the medical industry is no exception. The medical diagnostic industry, in particular, enables extensive use of metal and pipe fabrication technology to manufacture many of the machines and products used in diagnosis of ailments and diseases. Metal fabrication technology is considered so important to the medical industry, such that lack of fabrication will cause this industry to come to a standstill. So, what are the major applications and benefits of metal fabrication in the medical industry? Let’s find out in this blog.

Scanning and Imaging Machines

Scanning and imaging machines are essential in the diagnostic industry for medical professionals to perform accurate tests and to make correct diagnoses. Some of the applications of metal fabrication in this regard are as follows: –

Ultrasound machine: This diagnostic scanning machine is utilized to view and study internal organs, as well as to detect objects. The precise calibrations achieved with the help of sheet metal fabrication help with the manufacture of high-quality ultrasound machines which can effectively diagnose diseases and illnesses.

MRI equipment: MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment uses radio waves and strong magnetic fields to capture the human anatomy in images. An MRI scanning machine uses magnets to scan the body via a non-invasive procedure. Stainless fabricated products are effectively used in the manufacture of MRI scan machines.

Image Reconstruction System: IRS or Image Reconstruction System uses mathematical equations to manipulate digitized information received during body scans. With the help of these results, surgeons are able to reconstruct many body parts, including the knees, heart and breasts. A finely calibrated machine could be used for this system and this can be created with the help of stainless-steel fabrication.

Medical imaging equipment: PET scanning machines, CT scan machines, spectrometry scan equipment — all these and many more find their roots in sheet metal fabrication. It is used to manufacture the highest quality stainless steel and aluminum equipment for the medical industry. Each of these scanning machines is made under strict statistical process control specifications to maintain their accuracy and efficiency.

Other Applications

Apart from scanning and imaging, a variety of systems and machines also leverage machine fabrication as follows: –

Nuclear medicine cabinets: Stainless steel fabrication is used to make nuclear medicine cabinets. These are used to prevent patient exposure to hazardous waste. This is accomplished by ensuring that the cabinets are encased in the lead with a stainless-steel outer body. These cabinets are generally manufactured on a circular chute with a 4-inch diameter, which allows the doctors and other medical practitioners to conveniently and effectively dispose of hazardous medical waste.

Ablation system: Ablation therapy is a minimally invasive procedure which is used destroy abnormal tissues with the help of laser cutting, heat or extreme cold. Surgeons and doctors generally rely on these systems for the treatment of abnormal heartbeat and kidney stones. Precision is the most critical factor for this procedure; hence sheet metal fabrication is used to create medical products for ablation treatment.

Control system solutions: These are the automated machine products which are leveraged in various medical applications. They mainly consist of sensitive levers, switches and sensors. Sheet metal and stainless-steel fabrication help to create finely calibrated dimensions which can be used in this medical equipment. This type of fabrication makes the equipment more reliable and durable.

Final Thoughts

The usage of metal fabrication in medicine and diagnostics is growing every day. Even something as basic as ultrasound (which is used for analysis of human anatomy) makes use of metal fabrication. This ubiquity may give rise to potentially more sophisticated machines which focus on precision and accuracy – this will tie in with the future of medicine!

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BOC Opens Second Australian Application Technology Centre

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Leading gas and engineering company BOC, a Linde company, has officially opened a new Application Technology Centre in south-west Sydney in Australia with Senator Tim Ayres, Assistant Minister for Trade and Manufacturing, cutting the ribbon at the new site. Expected to drive innovation and productivity improvements across the Australian manufacturing industry, the new world-class facility will showcase state-of-the-art welding processes and equipment to customers, industry and educators, with a focus on industry 4.0 technologies that make customers more productive.

Smart welding equipment and BOC’s high-performance gases are used to help Australian manufacturers remain competitive by improving welding speeds, producing high-quality welds, reducing manual handling and improving heat induction bending services. The facility demonstrates the benefits of welding cobots to semi-automate welding processes to help solve skilled welder shortage challenges and improve welding productivity for TIG and MIG welding. With livestream capabilities, BOC gas and metal fabrication specialists will be able to give face-to-face or virtual demonstrations to any customer location in Australia.

Assistant Minister Ayres said the brand-new facility shows BOC’s commitment to helping Australian manufacturing and supporting jobs in Western Sydney. “It is great to see companies, just like BOC, investing in new innovative facilities and developing cutting-edge technologies,” he said. “It is critical that businesses continue to invest in research and development to ensure they can remain globally competitive and create the high-value, high-wage and high-tech jobs of the future.”

John Evans, Managing Director, BOC South Pacific, said the new facility would allow BOC to practically demonstrate productivity improvements and share innovation from its global research and development centres in Munich, Shanghai and New York. “BOC is committed to sharing our local and global technical expertise to ensure Australian manufacturers remain competitive into the future. We have partnered with leading manufacturing OEMs to take our automation and industry 4.0 solutions to the next level,” he said.

Mr. Evans continued “The Application Technology Centre provides an interactive, technology-ready space for customers and industry to solve challenges and learn how smart welding processes and equipment can improve quality, productivity and safety . Education is vital to help businesses plan and invest for the future. Our gas and metal and steel fabrication specialists can use the facility to replicate key challenges in Australian factories, and recommend solutions that can achieve productivity improvements. In some cases, this can be a simple welding gas or wire change, or automating parts of a welding process to solve labor challenges or using data to make more informed business choices.”

Guests at the opening were taken on a tour of the facility including live demonstrations of a welding co-bot, arc projectors and shielding gas performance line demonstration. The facility is the second Application Technology Centre for BOC in Australia, which includes another Application Technology Centre in Rocklea, Queensland.

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TIG and MIG – Difference in Welding Types

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Welding is an essential process in most fabrication jobs, with applications in both heavy and light metal fabrication. Different energy sources are used for welding, with a variety of available techniques. Until the end of the 19th century, forge welding was the only method used, but later processes, such as arc welding, have since been developed. Modern methods use gas flame, electric arc, lasers, electron beam, friction and even ultrasound to join materials and have applications in industries such as mining plant and equipment. Two commonly used welding techniques are TIG and MIG welding – this blog will look to discuss their individual characteristics, pros and cons and uses in different areas.

TIG Welding – An Overview

TIG Welding

TIG stands for Tungsten Inert Gas. This method of welding uses a non-consumable electrode, made of tungsten, to run a high-powered current through the metals being joined, and bond them permanently. One of the main differences between TIG and MIG welding is that TIG welding does not always use a “filler metal” – a wire that is melted to help join two objects together. MIG welding always uses some kind of filler, while most TIG welding projects do not. This means that TIG welding usually requires a hotter operating temperature to work correctly, as both pieces of metal must be welded at extremely hot temperatures. TIG welding is usually a better choice for joining thinner, more delicate pieces of metal. Thin metal is much easier to weld without a filler, and TIG welding will provide a more seamless, beautiful result in steel fabrication. TIG welding also provides a stronger overall bond than MIG welding, because it physically bonds both pieces of metal to one another without the addition of a large volume of filler material.

Advantages and Disadvantages:

Some advantages of TIG welding are a precise finish is obtained, no filler materials are required and it is cleaner and better for the environment. A few cons are also present such as it is more expensive, more time consuming and difficult and requires a completely clean welding surface.

What is MIG Welding?

What is MIG Welding?

MIG stands for Metal Inert Gas. All MIG welders utilize a metal wire, which is used as a filler material to help bond metal objects. As the MIG welder operates, this wire is continuously melted, and bonds to each object that is being welded together. This makes MIG welding a much better choice for thick pieces of steel. Thicker metals cannot be heated up quickly enough by TIG welding, so they require some kind of filler material in order to be joined properly. For heavy steel fabrication companies, MIG welding is usually recommended, due to its ability to join thick metals very quickly. However, MIG welding is often not quite as seamless and attractive as TIG welding, making it a poor choice in areas where aesthetic perfection is desired.

Advantages and Disadvantages:

MIG welding has quite a few pros such as having a shorter join time than TIG welding, being less expensive , it creating a more accurate bond and also producing a clean, maintenance-free weld. Some disadvantages are it is not quite as strong as TIG welding, requires an expert welder to be effective, cannot usually be performed outdoors and it produces heavy smoke, fumes and sparks.

Final Words

As can be observed, both TIG and MIG welding have different characteristics and features in the fabrication industry. TIG is a more delicate process and hence, it consumes more resources such as heat and energy. MIG involves the use of filler materials and is not as precise. With multiple techniques and products in the sheet metal fabrication industry, TIG and MIG welding techniques stand out for their versatility and ubiquity in different sectors!

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