‘Green’ MIG welding

A BREAKTHROUGH in robot MIG welding that will increase welding speed and consequently boost productivity in the metal fabrication sector is the latest investment project for the Centre for Energy and Greenhouse Technologies (CEGT).

Robot welding was introduced to manufacturing production lines a number of years ago to improve welding speed and consistency.

Robot MIG (Metal Inert Gas) or Gas Metal Arc Welding is now widely used across metal fabrication but it requires a significant amount of electricity and uses carbon dioxide (CO2) as a shielding gas. Both contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, which was the catalyst for CEGT’s interest in the technology.

CEGT is to invest $450,000 into MIGfast, the company formed to commercialise the new technology.

The MIGfast product is a consumable welding contact tip that provides significant benefits in welding productivity, weld quality and fume reduction. It has been developed by the CSIRO and the CRC for Welded Structures.

Jan Dekker, MD of CEGT, said that MIGfast could reduce the time to make a weld by up to 50%, resulting in the use of less energy per weld.

“This means that energy consumption is reduced as is the use of CO2 shielding gas, which are both highly positive outcomes in terms of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions,” Dekker said.

The MIGfast technology allows more efficient welding for such MIG welding applications without the need for capital investment.

The welding tip has been designed to be interchangeable with existing welding tips to allow simple and cost-effective take-up of the new technology. It allows more efficient welding for both pulsed and non-pulsed MIG welding processes.

Other advantages include reduced weld fumes and spatter, resulting in a cleaner and safer work area and reduced heat distortion in welded parts as half the energy is injected into the weld for the same result.

For further information, contact Hans de Zwart at CEGT on 03 5122 1941.