Arc welding and cutting equipment and consumables supplier Lincoln Electric Holdings has established a “strategic partnership” with a developer of fiber lasers and amplifiers, to “explore global opportunities” in laser welding and cutting. The agreement is not a joint venture, but will involve a working relationship between Lincoln and IPG Photonics Corp. to develop applications for high-power laser welding and cutting, and Lincoln will list IPG Photonics as a “strategic supplier vendor” as a way to improve its supply chain and technology development relationships in that process area.
"This strategic partnership brings together the world's strongest welding company and the world's leader in laser technology to provide innovative, integrated laser welding solutions to the marketplace,” stated Lincoln Electric chairman and CEO John M. Stropki. “It also affirms our companies' strong commitment to bring maximum value to customers worldwide.”
Stropki listed construction, automotive, energy and general fabrication as target markets for the partners.
IPG Photonics pioneered the development and commercialization of optical fiber-based lasers for materials processing, telecommunications and medical applications. Fiber lasers reportedly offer advantages in performance, reliability, usability and cost-effectiveness compared with conventional lasers.
The agreement calls for Lincoln and IPG to establish ways to provide more turnkey hybrid fiber laser-MIG welding solutions to industrial customers, worldwide. It also anticipates cooperative sales programs, application development, and marketing efforts.
As examples of these joint efforts, Lincoln listed collaborating and strategizing for new business opportunities, sharing technology developments, and improving business processes. Their advantages will come from faster commercialization, system integration and entry into new markets and applications. And, according to the Stropki, customers will benefit from “best-in-class” laser and hybrid laser welding packages that will increase productivity and quality, and reduce costs.
“Our companies have enjoyed an excellent working relationship over the past several years,” stated IPG chairman and CEO Dr. Valentin P. Gapontsev. “Strategic partnering is an effective vehicle to grow market presence, accelerate opportunity creation, and strengthen our competitive position.
“This agreement reinforces our valued relationship with Lincoln Electric, provides a unique forum for persistent engagement at the executive levels of both companies, and ultimately ensures our mutual customer base can enjoy the depth and advantages of the high-performance enabling technologies each company offers,” Gapontsev concluded.
The m3 Plasma Package consists of a plasma power source from the m3 series, a flow-control system, a PT36 torch and a standalone CNC control, such as the ESAB Vision 50P.
The plasma system also comes with a number of interface options to ensure trouble-free integration on different levels with the existing robotic system.
One platform, together with one torch and one set of components, can perform cutting and marking functions in gas-shielded and water-injection plasma-arc cutting modes.
There are four levels of m3 power supplies available to cut material thickness requirements from 2 to 150mm.
They employ the same CNC interface to take advantage of several cutting and marking solutions.
The PT-36 cutting torch is suitable for marking and cutting (straight, thick and precision), as well as bevelling applications and robotic 3D weld-edge preparation cutting.
Also available are air plasma-arc systems designed to interface with robots for lower-cost installations, offering up to 25mm cutting thicknesses.
ESAB Cutting Systems can also supply a complete gas cutting kit for integration into robotic installations.
Where preheating is required, ESAB has developed a torch to perform in robotic applications.
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