Towering success ESAB

TOWERING SUCCESS

ESAB is a global leader in the design and manufacture of welding and cutting equipment and related consumable products. The company continues to see strong growth and recently won a contract to provide consumables for the world’s longest three tower, cable stayed bridge. This achievement has been announced in tandem with its launch of a new, advanced range of gas equipment and pressure control products. Philip Yorke reports.

ESAB was founded in Sweden in 1904 by Oscar Kjellberg, who developed the world’s first coated welding electrode. This resulted in the launch of a company whose uncompromising standards have helped to create the history of welding itself. In 2012 ESAB was acquired by the Colfax Corporation, one of the world’s leading diversified industrial manufacturing groups. Colfax, like ESAB, is a solidly customer-focused company that places a strong emphasis on constant innovation and improvement.

Today ESAB is a recognised leader in the welding and cutting industry. From its time-honoured processes in welding and cutting technology, to revolutionary technologies in mechanised cutting and automation, ESAB’s welding filler materials, equipment and accessories bring solutions to customers around the globe.

ESAB is represented in almost every country in the world by either subsidiaries or carefully selected approved agents. Sales and support is established in more than 80 countries worldwide and it operates 26 manufacturing plants across four continents.

High-spec consumables

ESAB was recently awarded the contract to supply welding consumables for construction of the new 1.7-mile road bridge over the Firth of Forth in Scotland that connects Edinburgh with Fife. The new bridge has the world’s longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge, and the overall scheme encompassing the bridge and the connecting road network is Scotland’s biggest transport infrastructure at an estimated cost of more than £1.3 billion.

Thirty-five thousand tonnes of steel will be required to construct the huge bridge which is almost three kilometres long. A composite steel tub/concrete deck superstructure will carry two lanes of traffic plus a hard shoulder in each direction. This will be supported by steel cables attached to three slender concrete towers of up to 210 metres high.

Currently ESAB’s experts are working in conjunction with the project consortium, the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) and their senior welding engineer, to finalise the selection of consumables and to optimise welding procedures. Given the complexity of the project, a combination of up to seven welding consumables will be utilised to achieve the optimum balance of weld quality and productivity across the different welded joints and materials required.

On a project such as this, where very demanding deadlines must be met, the supply chain is of paramount importance. To this end ESAB has entered into an agreement with local distributor IWS of Dunfermline. Stock will be held at its premises, which is located just 15 minutes from the bridge, thus ensuring the shortest possible lead times.

New product range launch

ESAB also recently announced the launch of a new range of gas equipment which will extend its current brand portfolio in Europe. The all-new product line combines leading Victor® and ESAB gas

apparatus and pressure control products in the most comprehensive selection offered by any manufacturer in the world. The new line includes gas regulators, torch handles, oxy-fuel cutting tips and their attachments, as well as flow meters and welding and cutting equipment. These innovative new products cover the entire range of user needs from general industrial to heavy-duty mill and foundry requirements. They represent the most modern and advanced gas apparatus technology available today and provide superior quality reliability, safety and performance. With this new product line in place ESAB will phase out the Murex Saffire, Elite and Sabrecut brands.

There are innumerable product highlights across the entire new range range and these include the ESS3 Single Stage regulators which feature an advanced, user friendly design that protects the outlet hose connection, relief valve, gauges and regulator terminals from any damage. The housing cap is a zinc aluminium alloy that is twice the yield strength of brass and the cap is mated to the forged brass body with six stainless steel bolts. The unique Shock Limitation and Absorption Mechanism (SLAM®) protects the regulator and cylinder valve in the event of a cylinder fall and can absorb more than 5000lbs of force.

The company’s new ETS4 Multi-Stage Regulators also deliver strong performance even as a cylinder empties and inlet pressure decays. Edge regulators feature a more efficient internal flow path, which in turn improves consistency when running from a full to empty cylinder.

ESAB’s G Series Single Stage regulators are based upon a more traditional regulator design with contoured, colour-coded knobs to indicate gas type, plus better comfort when adjusting gas pressure. These regulators feature a high strength alloy bonnet with nearly twice the yield strength of forged brass, which in turn provides exceptional product durability. n

For further details of ESAB’s latest innovative products and services visit: www.esab.com