More than half of all American products manufactured need welding. The term “welding” applies to numerous different processes and tools used to join metals. With a staggering thirty different methods of welding as a whole, it is easy to get confused.
A Brief History
Right up to the end of the 19th century, forge welding was the only method used until both arc welding and oxy-fuel welding came to use. Global warfare in the early 20th century was largely liable for the development of new welding procedures that were both cost-effective and dependable.
Fundamental and manual processes like shielded metal arc welding sprang up and remain popular today. From here, gas metal arc welding and flux-cored arc welding were improved. Growths in welding continued throughout the latter part of the 20th century with laser welding and robot welding, which are used in industrial settings.
We will now focus on these industrial locations with a brief snapshot of 6 industries that use welding in its many different forms. As you’ll soon see, it is MIG welding that covers the pole position across all industries.
Various Industries Employing Welders
Automotive Industry
Heretofore MIG welding delivers a super-strong bond even between thinner metals, it is ideal for joining layers of aluminium on the manufacturing line. Laser MIG welding is gaining ground as car manufacturers admire the affordable nature of this procedure, which also gives superior penetration depth.
The average car needs thousands of welds, so unless things change radically, welding will stay a staple in the automotive business.
Railroads
Welding work is a major part of the railroad industry. When steel rails were introduced more than a century ago, welding was important for joining these rails. Shot welding was a creative form of spot welding formulated in 1932 as a way of incorporating this steel effectively.
The Pioneer Zephyr, America’s first diesel aerodynamic train, was made by the Budd Company, the company behind shot welding. This metal behemoth was one of the first representations of spot welding being used for tremendous effect.
Aerospace
Unsurprisingly, since welding is one of the greatest methods of joining metal, the aerospace organisation has a lot of use for it. Aerospace engineers employed welding to make the very initial commercial aircraft.
Gas welding was previously the standard production method – it is still used now for aircraft restorations – but it has been superseded by electrical arc welding. This alternate method works well for ultimate types of metal. TIG welding, originally developed by the aerospace industry for functioning with magnesium, became popular in the 1940s.
Today, engineers operate with MIG welding for manufacturing aircraft, on the other hand, plasma arc welding and electric resistance welding are generally used for fusing sheeting and precision work.
Manufacturing
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that well 0.3 million welding technicians are employed in manufacturing alone. There are various types of manufacturing factories that hire welders; still, the most common employers are architectural and structural metals producing, mining and agricultural manufacturing and motor vehicle manufacturing. Aerospace businesses and shipbuilding firms are also main welding employers. Welders that operate in manufacturing plants are mainly responsible for welding metal parts of several sizes and types to either produce a new product or fix an old one.
Major production of everything from computer components to machinery coils is a different area in which MIG welding is basic. Its rate and cost-effectiveness mean it is the ideal solution for high-output manufacturing.
MIG welding, as we have already seen, is also incredibly versatile. Before the manufacturing sector uses such a widespread of metals, this flexibility means MIG welding is exceptionally important to the industry. Fully sixty % of all welding jobs are production-based.
From furniture to farming tools, computer components to mining machinery, just about anything you can think of that is put together on a manufacturing line will desire to weld somewhere during the procedure.
Construction And Infrastructure
MIG welding was invented to fuse non-ferrous metals like aluminium. In the construction business, though, workers especially use steel, and MIG welding is also majorly employed for steelwork.
With over fifty % of the steel produced across the world being used in the construction of commercial and residential buildings and houses, there is a tremendous demand for welding on site. Further, jobs in welding are a great way to repair destroyed machines or broken equipment.
Flux-cored welding is also mostly used in the construction business, and shielded-metal arc welding is a filthy but affordable option. Plasma arc welding works adequately for detailed precision projects.
Shipping
From cruise liners and big tankers to cargo watercraft and aircraft carriers, welding underpins the building of most ships. Although engineers can also use rivets, welding is a big deal quicker.
For reasons of velocity and economy, welding has been the gold standard in the shipping business since World War II. Much like in the construction business, welding is also a regular process for rebuilding ships of all shapes and sizes.
