Oil rig maker needs up to 2,000 welders

If you're a welder in Texas, here's some great news...From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Keppel AmFELS, Inc., which makes and repairs offshore oil rigs, on Thursday announced plans to hire hundreds of welders and skilled laborers at the Port of Brownsville.

Gilbert Elizondo, the company's vice president of human resources, said the company plans to hire between 500 and 700 workers.

A spokesman for Cameron Works, a county-run job training and placement organization, said 2,000 workers could be hired there by the end of two years.

"We are opening our centers and expecting quite a flood of applicants for these jobs," Rey Guevara said in a story in Friday's editions of The Brownsville Herald.

Elizondo did not say what companies were contracting with AmFELS for new rigs. He said the orders occurred during the past three weeks.

"We're excited and we're very busy," Elizondo said. "You could imagine the economic spin-off when you have guys that can make anywhere from $7.50 to $12 an hour and with overtime, you start talking about serious money."

AmFELS now has about 800 employees and is the county's largest private employer.

It is a subsidiary of Singapore-based Far East Levingston Shipbuilding Ltd.

Titanium Welding Code Creeps Ahead at AWS

From Design News comes this on Titanium welding...

A much-anticipated welding code expected to aid designers and spur the use of titanium in industrial and military applications outside of the aerospace sector continues to make steady progress towards final approval.

Now in its eighth draft, the D1.9 Structural Welding Code--Titanium was submitted in late May to the American Welding Society’s (AWS), Structural Welding Committee. From there it will go to the Miami-based AWS’s Technical Activities Committee (TAC), composed of 40 members representing a broad cross section of the U.S. welding industry.

John Gayler, AWS senior staff engineer, described the code as a document whose publication will follow the rigorous approval guidelines of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Washington. It’s expected that AWS approval of the code will come in late 2006 or early 2007--possibly sooner.

Once finalized by AWS, the code will be submitted to ANSI for publication. The code will define minimum requirements for welding titanium in structural applications. It is a methodology that includes an introduction, a design section covering static and cyclic loading, details on fabrication, assembly, inspection and welding procedures, and a series of final commentaries.

It also will include a mandatory ballistic annex, providing specific data offering weld specifications for titanium vehicle structures subject to potential ballistic threats during combat operations.

John Lawmon, principal engineer at Edison Welding Institute (EWI), Columbus, OH, said new business opportunities to design and develop titanium parts for structural/architectural and military vehicular applications are spurring the effort to draft the code.

The Army's requirements to produce lighter, more deployable systems is a key factor in its use of titanium and the development of a structural welding code, explained Stephen Luckowski, chief, prototype manufacturing team for the Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), Picatinny Arsenal, NJ.

Luckowski serves as the chairman of the AWS’s D1N subcommittee on titanium structures. Lawmon, the vice chairman of the D1N subcommittee, said that, once finalized, the code will define critical areas of concern to design engineers, like weld fatigue. Lawmon said that while fatigue is well documented for welded titanium components used in the aerospace industry, there is very little information available in the public domain for construction applications like roofs and facades or structural parts for military ground vehicles.

Welding instructor took up trade at N. Thurston, now works there

From The Olympian (Washington)

he desks are superfluous in Jesse Ratcliff's classroom at North Thurston High School.

"I don't even know why he's got a classroom," said Keith Gadman, 18, who calls his welding teacher "Ratty."

Students sit in the desks at the beginning of class for roll call, and in the final moments before the bell ending class.

For the rest of the period, however, they're busily wielding torches or sculpting metal.

"You can't tell me this class isn't cooler than a math class," said Ratcliff, a 1995 North Thurston graduate.

The welding program teaches students vocational skills they otherwise wouldn't learn, he said.

David J. Nangle Appointed President of Lincoln Electric's J.W. Harris Business

CLEVELAND, May 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LECO - News) today announced the appointment of David J. Nangle as President of J.W. Harris Co., Inc., the Company's recently acquired manufacturer of brazing and soldering alloys. In this new position, Mr. Nangle will be responsible for all J.W. Harris operations, which include facilities in Ohio, Rhode Island, Spain and Mexico. He will also continue as President of two other Lincoln subsidiaries, Harris Calorific, Inc. and Welding, Cutting Tools & Accessories, Inc. (WCTA).

"Given his broad range of expertise and thorough knowledge of all of Lincoln's products, Dave is an ideal choice for the J.W. Harris role," said John M. Stropki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Dave will work very closely with the strong team already in place at J.W. Harris to integrate them and the operations into the Lincoln Electric family."

Mr. Nangle joined Lincoln Electric's sales organization in 1979 through its Sales Training Program. During his Lincoln career, he has moved through a number of sales management positions of increasing responsibility, including District Manager of the Denver office followed by the San Francisco office. In 1995, he was named Distributor Sales Manager, and was appointed President of the Company's Harris Calorific subsidiary in 1999. In 2003, Mr. Nangle added responsibilities for the WCTA business unit.

He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Roanoke College and an MBA from California State University, Fresno.

Lincoln Electric is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc-welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln has operations, manufacturing alliances and joint ventures in 18 countries and a worldwide network of distributors and sales offices covering more than 160 countries. For more information about Lincoln Electric, its products and services, visit the Company's Web site at www.lincolnelectric.com .

MIG welding—The basics and then some

Marty Rice, over at TheFabricator.com has written some nice things. Here's a sample...

"You ran much MIG?” the foreman asked. “Yeah (I lied), quite a bit.” Heck, I didn’t even know what MIG was! I had been welding a couple of semesters at a vocational college and had gotten pretty good with stick welding. So Phil Newell, the head instructor who used to scream in my ear, “Relax your hand. Watch the puddle.” sent me to apply for an entry-level welding job.

The job was flat welding thin-gauge steel. The foreman took me to a testing area and showed me the MIG machine. He then gave me four pieces of thin-gauge tubing and told me how he wanted them welded. He said he’d be back in about 20 minutes to check on me. After he walked out, I contemplated what I should do. Should I tell him I didn’t know diddlysquat? Should I run out, jump in my truck, and tear outta there?

A Humbling Experience

I picked up the MIG gun and didn’t realize I was pressing the trigger. I was looking at the machine, trying to figure out the settings, when something touched my leg. About 10 feet of wire had run out of the gun! I madly tried to break it off by bending it back and forth. After about a hundred bends, I looked down at the table and saw a pair of wire cutters. “So that’s what they do, they cut it off,” I thought."

See the rest at over at The Fabricator...

Bay Bridge Welding Scandal: Welders' pace faster than feds believed

Production logs support workers' claims that they were urged to hurry up; investigations continue

Staff writers Sean Holstege and Jill Tucker from the Oakland Tribune report new findings...

Bay Bridge workers welded up to twice as fast as federal inspectors thought, according to independent documents from Caltrans, its contractor and a welding foreman.

Caltrans daily production logs for 574 individual welders' shifts between November 2003 and March 2005 are consistent with a central allegation by current and former welders who said they were pressured to hurry up. Many told investigators they saw, made or concealed bad welds in the drive to meet production demands and were rewarded with cash bonuses when they did.

Independent inspectors brought in by the Federal Highway Administration concluded last week that the workmanship was "excellent" on the three welds they carved out and tested. Those welds were madein March after contractor KFM Joint Venture was aware of the allegations.

In those FHWA reports, two inspectors said workers typically took 15 to 20 minutes to lay a full bead of metal and another 15 to 20 minutes between each such "pass" to set up the welding machine for another run. That's two passes an hour, or no more than 18 in a 10-hour shift with breaks, assuming no equipment glitches, which welders said were common.

Read the rest over at the Tribune site: http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_2733331

Compact MIG/MAG welding machines from KEMPACT

From Ferret.AU

KEMPACT MIG 2520 and 2530 set a new 'compact' class for MIG/MAG welding machines from Kemppi.

Based on the company's advanced inverter technology, the Kempact MIG 2520/2530 models provide excellent arc quality from compact, lightweight packages yet achieve a remarkably high duty cycle: 250 amps at 40%.Kempact MIG 2520 and 2530 models are ideal for applications where portability is an essential consideration.

The mains voltage operation is 3 phase 400 Volt with a fuse delay of 16 amps.At just 17.5kg and 20kg respectively, the weight of these new MIG machines is only a quarter of comparative products, so the easy-to-move Kempacts are particularly well suited to repair, installation and supply work as well as light and medium duty in-shop use.

A three or 4.5-metre torch cable can be specified.When designing the machine, Kemppi aimed to maximise simplicity and ease of use. Therefore all welding values can be easily adjusted on the front-facing dials, and the machines are capable of working with a full range of materials.

Wire diameters range between 0.6mm and 1.0mm for steel and stainless steel, 0.9mm and 1.2mm for flux cored wires and aluminium, and 0.8mm and 1.0mm for silicon bronze. The 2520 will accommodate five kilos of wire, whilst the 2530 will take a massive 15 kg reel.Changes can be made to polarity for gasless flux cored welding.

Wire inch with a safety speed makes the spool change easy and quick, with a lower safety risk.Kempact MIG machines are equipped with two-wheel wire drive mechanisms, providing smooth feeding with all wire materials: steel, stainless, aluminium and silicon bronze. Wire feed is variable between one and 18 m/min.

NIOSH, WVU Examine Health Effects of Welding Fumes

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in partnership with the West Virginia University Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health (IOEH), will sponsor a seminar on the health effects of welding on July 23-24 in Morgantown, W.Va.
At the seminar, leading experts from around the world will gather to share the latest information in key research areas regarding potential occupational health effects from welding fumes.

Some studies have suggested links between exposures to welding fumes and risks of work-related diseases, including respiratory, reproductive and nervous system impairments, according to NIOSH. However, the available data generally are too limited to offer conclusive answers. The organizations hope the seminar offers some insight into the challenging questions about this issue.

Key topics that will be covered include:

• Studies on the lung function changes and cancer associated with welding fumes.
• A new approach to "metal fume fever."
• Prevalence of Parkinson's disease among welders as well as an overview of neuropsychological literature.
• The question of whether or not manganese, a component of some welding fumes, plays a role in Parkinsonism.

"Questions about the potential health effects of welding fumes are a subject of ongoing debate among scientists and policymakers," said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. "At the center of this debate is a vital U.S. industry that employs more than 400,000 men and women. As part of our strategic research to help answer these questions, NIOSH is pleased to join with West Virginia University and other diverse partners to sponsor this prestigious forum."

For more, see the full article on OccupationalHazards.com

Welding Whistleblower

A whistleblower's complaint that unqualified Navy welders had inadequately soldered catapult hydraulic piping systems on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk was substantiated in an Office of Special Counsel report to President Bush.

The catapults are used to hoist aircraft from the carrier's deck into the air, and a failure of the hydraulic system could result in the loss of the aircraft and the possible death of the pilot and others.

By sending the report to the president, Special Counsel Scott Bloch confirmed that the Navy's second report on allegations first made by whistleblower Kristin Shott in November 2001 is complete and reasonable.

The Navy inquiry found the defective welding would not likely cause catastrophic failure, but the report did not rule out the possibility, according to OSC.

The investigation by the Navy found that an integrated electronics systems mechanic continued to weld even after his supervisor knew that his certification had expired. The report also found that the Naval Air Depot's certification tracking system was deficient.

The Navy repaired the problems with the Kitty Hawk's catapult in November, and the depot is working to improve its training and recertification program. The mechanic was disciplined with a three-day suspension. His supervisor - who told investigators that he did not assign mechanics soldering jobs - was going to be demoted, but his apology prompted a delay and a 5- to 14-day suspension is likely.

The faulty welding found on the USS Kitty Hawk is related to the faulty welding found on five other aircraft carriers in a February 2003 investigation instigated by Shott's disclosure to OSC.

New Study Finds No Association Between Welding and Parkinson's Disease

First Epi-Cohort Study to Focus on Welders Confirms Welders Not at Increased Risk of Neurodegenerative Disorders

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2005--The Welding Information Center announced today that an important new epidemiological study published in the May 2005 issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine concludes that there is no link between welding or exposure to welding fumes and an increased risk of Parkinson's disease or any other similar neurodegenerative disorder. Entitled "A Cohort Study of Parkinson's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders in Danish Welders," it is the first epidemiological cohort study of Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders undertaken among men employed as welders.


Dr. Mark Roberts, Fellow and Board Member of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, stated, "This is an excellent study that provides important information about the health of welders. It is the largest cohort study to date to look at the issue of welding and Parkinson's disease and other parkinsonisms. It has a well-defined study population, excellent long-term follow-up and is the only cohort study to look at the rate of incidence of Parkinson's disease in this context. The results of this study show that welders in this large population are not at an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease or other similar movement disorders."

The cohort of 27,839 males identified as working in metals manufacturing, were drawn from all Danish males with hospitalization and out-patient records from the period 1977 through 2002. 9,817 of these men worked in departments where welding occurred, and 6,163 of those in such departments were classified as actual welders. The standardized disease-specific hospitalization ratio (SHR) incidence of Parkinson's disease in these three groups was then compared to the SHRs for the same diseases in the general population. The resulting SHRs for Parkinson's disease were .9 for all workers in metals manufacturing, 1.0 for those in welding departments, and .9 for welders themselves. An SHR below 1.0 indicates the studied cohort was less likely to contract the disease than the general public, an SHR of 1.0 means the risk is the same as the general public, and an SHR above 1.0 suggests an increased risk for the studied group. Similar non-association SHRs were computed for the other neurodegenerative diseases.


The cohort of 27,839 males identified as working in metals manufacturing, were drawn from all Danish males with hospitalization and out-patient records from the period 1977 through 2002. 9,817 of these men worked in departments where welding occurred, and 6,163 of those in such departments were classified as actual welders. The standardized disease-specific hospitalization ratio (SHR) incidence of Parkinson's disease in these three groups was then compared to the SHRs for the same diseases in the general population. The resulting SHRs for Parkinson's disease were .9 for all workers in metals manufacturing, 1.0 for those in welding departments, and .9 for welders themselves. An SHR below 1.0 indicates the studied cohort was less likely to contract the disease than the general public, an SHR of 1.0 means the risk is the same as the general public, and an SHR above 1.0 suggests an increased risk for the studied group. Similar non-association SHRs were computed for the other neurodegenerative diseases.

The study concluded "this cohort of Danish welders with more than 20 years of systematic follow-up had rates of PD and other neurological conditions consistent with those of the general population of Denmark," and notes its clinical significance by saying, "this relatively large cohort study offers assurances that men in mild and stainless steel welding do not have increased hospitalizations for PD or other neurodegenerative disorders."

The lead author of the study was epidemiologist Dr. Jon Fryzek of the International Epidemiological Institute, in Rockville MD. A grant funding this research was provided by a group of current and former manufacturers of welding consumables.

Welders spark small hospital fire

From The Lowell Sun, another reminder about how easy it is to cause a fire when you're welding...

CONCORD -- A Concord fireman lived up to his duty while on a “welding detail” at a New England Deaconess medical facility yesterday, where he extinguished a fire sparked by welding materials., Capt. Donald Prentiss said a firefighter was on a detail at the 100 Newbury Court facility, just in case any fire started while construction crews were performing welding on a major addition to the existing facility.

Falling slag from the ongoing welding sparked a small fire about 9 a.m., and the detail firefighter quickly put it out, containing damage to the immediate area where the fire started, Prentiss said.

The blaze was controlled quick enough that it didn't even set off smoke alarms. A full crew of on-duty firefighters still responded to make sure all hot spots were out and that the fire hadn't spread, but found that all was well.
No one was hurt.

Spot welding with a soft touch and less flash

With capabilities for 'soft touch' welding and higher quality welds with reduced expulsion, servo welding offers faster cycle times, programmability, reduced costs, and superior force repeatability.

Tol-O-Matic has announced the SW Series Servo Welding Actuator - a patented new design that offers compact design, significantly extended service life and zero maintenance. Available in high performance roller screw or a ball screw models, the SW Series actuator features rated life at weld force exceeding 10 million cycles for the roller screw and 5 million for the ball screw when side loading is within specification. In many applications, service life can exceed these levels.

The SW Series Actuators incorporate an 8-pole Nd-Fe-B hollow core rotor with skewed stator laminations that provides low cogging torque. This design results in superior force repeatability of +/-3.0% over millions of weld cycles, with actual field results to +/-1.5%, independent of position. The design also results in greatly improved weld quality, offering weld force up to 2,500 lbf (11.12kN) and peak force of 4,400 lbf (19.57kN).

Joining Tol-O-Matic's successful HT Series Actuators, our new SW Series represents a technology leap in electric servo actuators, explained Dan Cass, Business Development manager - Servo Actuators. Electric servo welding in both robotic and fixture applications is rapidly replacing pneumatically-operated spot welding.

The SW and HT servo's capabilites for 'soft-touch' welding and fully programmable weld gun operation offer improved weld quality, fast cycle times, and reduced weld expulsion. Servo welding also offers environmental advantages with reduced compressed air leakage, abated noise and less exhaust contamination, noted Dan Cass.

The SW Actuator's integral anti-rotation feature reduces weld gun costs and envelope dimensions. The compact design, built on a 4.4in face (111.76mm) and weighing 31 lb (14.06 kg), is ideal for robotic, fixture and hand-gun welding, as well as pneumatic cylinder retrofitting. With a standard 6in stroke (152.4mm), the OAL of the SW is less than 15in (381mm), not including any feedback device. SW is available in low (325V DC) and high voltage (680V DC) models.

Designed for zero maintenance during the length of its service life, the SW Actuator is lubed and sealed. It requires no water or forced cooling, and features manual override and bumpers for 'hard-over' situations with no special tools needed.

Users of the SW Servo Actuator may choose to operate the device through the 7th axis in a robot or with a weld controller.

For easy system integration, the Tol-O-Matic SW Actuator supports feedback options and interfaces with all major robot and weld controller suppliers. In addition, the company offers a WeldAxis controller that supports the use of the SW servo and incorporates a controller + PLC + drive for optimum force and repeatability control.

More information here...

Virginia Shipyard Workers & Welders On a Lifesaving Mission

From the Washington Post

In normal times, the civil service employees at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard repair aircraft carriers, submarines and other ships. But these are not normal times.

Navy welders, electricians, boilermakers and steelworkers from the shipyard are "up-armoring" Army trucks at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait -- wrapping soldiers in heavy metal to protect them as they drive ammunition and supplies through Iraq.

In answering the call to serve in Kuwait, the Navy civilians from Portsmouth, Va., also serve as a dramatic reminder of how federal employees can cast aside bureaucratic red tape and adapt their skills to save lives.

"From a personal standpoint -- I have 28 years of government service -- I've never done anything that I felt was so personally rewarding," said Fredric Madeira , who served as a project superintendent in Kuwait.

Most of the volunteers are in their mid-forties, and despite the busy pace, most of the injuries have been minor, such as bruised hands and pinched fingers. Coping with the heat -- the temperature has reached 112 degrees -- is a major challenge, but the Army has provided weather tips and instructions on how many bottles of water to drink each day.

With weld safety confirmed, Bay Bridge work resuming

From the ContraCosta Times, things are appearing to settle down in the Bay Bridge Welding scandal.

Now that suspect welds have been sliced up, tested and given a federal seal of approval, state transportation officials are struggling to get the new Bay Bridge back on track.

Time is of the essence on California's largest-ever seismic safety project, especially because the $6.2 billion span is years behind schedule, billions over budget and mired in debate about whether to switch designs midconstruction.

When questions were raised by some welders about the integrity of the welds on support structures, the news added another layer of conflict for a troubled bridge.

Reassuring the public about the quality of workmanship has been key, and officials assert that the federal inspection report released last week does just that, even as an FBI investigation continues.

Now, the focus returns to construction.

"They've been told to stop, so now there'll be a big rush to get back on the job and accelerate production," said Robert Bea, a UC Berkeley engineering professor familiar with large public works projects. "I would guess Caltrans and the contractor are champing at the bit to go forward."

Read the entire story here...

American Welding Society Announces Winner Of The U.S. Open Weld Trials

May 3, 2005: Miami, FL- Joel Stanley, representing Northern Penobscot Tech, Region III, Maine, is the official winner of the 2005 U.S. Open Weld Trials held at The American Welding Society's (AWS) 2005 AWS Welding Show at the Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, TX. His win earned him two gold medals and a $40,000, four-year scholarship sponsored by Miller Electric. Six contestants representing other countries also participated in the US Open Weld Trials. Contestants welded for a total of 22 hours and were judged on various levels and skills.

Stanley will represent the U.S. at the World Skills Competition in Helsinki, Finland at the Helsinki Fair Centre. The World Skills Competition is a bi-annual event where young skilled people compete in various trades and test themselves against international standards. Contestants participate in 34 official competition skills that include technology, industry, and services. About 800 competitors from nearly 40 countries participate in the competition.

For more information on the U.S. Open Weld Trials, visit www.skillsusa.org. World Skills Competition information is available at www.worldskills.org .

The American Welding Society is the largest organization in the world dedicated to advancing the science, technology, and application of welding and allied processes, including joining, brazing, soldering, cutting, and thermal spraying. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, USA, AWS serves almost 50,000 members throughout the world. In 2005, the AWS Welding Show - the premier trade show for the welding industry - will take place April 26 through April 28 in Dallas, Texas, USA. For more information on AWS programs and publications, visit the Society's Web site, www.aws.org

Federal inspectors find Bay Bridge welds safe

The Bay Bridge welding saga continues...

From SFGate.com

Welds on the Bay Bridge's new eastern span are not faulty as alleged by former welders who claimed the work was dangerously unsafe, federal authorities said Wednesday.

Private inspectors hired by the Federal Highway Administration found no evidence of shoddy, unsafe welds after conducting visual and magnetic particle tests, and cutting out sections of steel foundation work for laboratory testing, officials said.

"Everything is pointing to good welds," said Mark DeSio, a spokesman for the California Department of Transportation. "We don't anticipate any problems. It's good news for us."

DeSio said federal inspectors still planned to conduct more tests to determine if any more inspections are needed, but Caltrans and its contractors were given clearance to complete the 1.5-mile-concrete skyway extending from the Oakland shores.

The FBI, the Federal Highway Administration and state Attorney General's office have been investigating allegations by former welders who said they were pressured to work too quickly and ordered to cover up substandard welds.

Read the entire article over at SFGate.com.

More women need to get involved in welding, other trades

Eileen Hendry walked into her first NAIT class in electrical technology and looked around her.
Of the 64 students, just six, including her, were women.

While more women are getting into the traditionally male-dominated trades, there's still a wide gulf separating the sexes, said Hendry, one of a number of panelists in the Women in Technology and Trades information session at the Northwest Regional Skills Canada Competition on Saturday.

This first regional competition drew 35 student competitors for events held at GPRC and the Grande Prairie Composite high school in the fields of baking, carpentry, culinary arts, hairstyling (junior and intermediate), programming, TV and video production, web page design and welding.

(Read the entire article here)

Robotic Cell welds small- to medium-sized parts. (from Lincoln Electric)

Link: Industrial News Room

April 6, 2005 07:50 - Dual, fixed-table eCell™ system is capable of MIG, Synergic MIG, MIG Pulse, and flux-cored arc welding procedures on parts that can be welded without reorientation. It welds variety of materials including steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Digitally-controlled, 350 A inverter welding power source is capable of high-speed communication and is delivered with 60+ factory-programmed waveforms optimized for variety of materials or applications.

New Lincoln Electric Compact Robotic eCell Provides Cost-Effective Welding Solution.

• Pre-engineered robotic platform offers quality, reliability and added safety.
• Dual fixed table workstation is designed for small- to medium-sized parts.
• Optimized layout for maximum flexibility while minimizing floor space.

Cleveland, Ohio - For fabrication shops looking to dramatically enhance welding productivity on small- to medium-sized parts, The Lincoln Electric Company introduces its new eCell™ dual fixed table robotic cell. The eCell pre-engineered system is designed to provide a flexible automation layout that delivers consistent and predictable production for small parts lots or exceptionally high part production volumes. Shipped completely assembled and ready for immediate installation and ready production, the eCell is particularly suited for smaller shops seeking a low cost automation alternative to labor intensive arc welding.

eCell is capable of MIG (short arc and spray), Synergic MIG and MIG Pulse welding or Flux-cored arc welding procedures on parts which can be welded without reorientation. It can be used to weld a variety of materials including steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.An exceptional reach/stroke ratio and high-axis speeds are at the core of eCell's Fanuc ArcMate l00iBe robot designed to deliver peak productivity for both simple and complex arc welding applications of all sizes and configurations. The R-J3iB Controller and easy-to-use ArcTool software provides reliable performance with affordability. The eCell includes Collision Guard torch protection software with password protection.

eCell is also offered with Torch Mate (automatic tool centerpoint software) and Touch Sensing (automatic part location software) as optionsThe heart of the new system is Lincoln's Power Wave 355 M, a digitally-controlled, 350-amp inverter welding power source capable of complex, high-speed communication. This welding power source features Lincoln's ArcLink® communication software, a Lincoln Nextweld™ innovation, allowing the system components to digitally communicate faster and more reliably than comparable analog-based systems. The unit features the industry's fastest response time for enhanced arc starting and superior arc control which results in reduced arc spatter, reduced fumes, and exceptionally smooth arc welding performance.

The Power Wave 355M is delivered with more than 60 factory-programmed standard waveforms optimized for a variety of materials or applications. Enabled through Waveform Control Technology™, another Lincoln Nextweld innovation, customers can choose a preprogrammed waveform or customize that program to best fit their application.

Manufactured to ISO 9001 Standards, eCell is compliant to ANSI/RIA 15.06-99, and includes ergonomic placement of operator panels, and controls. The eCells' 90-inch x 52-inch footprint minimizes floor space, and its forklift compatible base allows for portability for flexible manufacturing layouts. The cell arrives with a complete metal surround flash and safety barrier, and requires just power, compressed air, and welding consumables to be production ready.

The Lincoln Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio, is the world leader in the design and manufacture of arc welding equipment and consumables, robotic welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment.