Month: December 2017

As Tesla rolls out new Model 3s to test drivers, lingering manufacturing problems continue to delay production…

Details published in a Wall Street Journal report and in a video posted on Twitter sparked the interest of industry experts last month, with analysis suggesting Tesla seemed to be struggling to weld together their first predominantly steel vehicle.

The Model 3’s aluminium and steel body requires more welding than their previous projects – and experts suggest the main issue lies with expulsion from poorly planned spot welding.

They fell short of production targets for the third quarter, building just 260. Having previously predicted they would be producing 5,000 per week by the end of the year, it was clear that Tesla were “deep in production hell” – words used by CEO Elon Musk himself.

A few weeks ago the company officially cited battery pack assembly and welding robot processes as the main causes of delay – so could they still be lacking the welding knowledge needed to stand up to their ambitious plans?

Here at PWP Industrial, we’re always coming up against new challenges, and when a client approached us with an unusual welding torch requirement, we got straight to work on a solution to help you handle the heat.

The requirement

They required a heavy-duty plasma welding torch that could handle very high levels of radiant heat, as all the torches they have previously tried had melted from the outside. Usually when a plasma welding torch is working at too high a power setting they melt/burn from the inside, hence this was a novel situation for the team at PWP!

The PWP solution

Our solution was to modify a heavy-duty, metal-bodied plasma CUTTING torch, converting it into a very heavy duty plasma WELDING torch and making the lead set to connect it to the power source. The modifications centred around the pilot arc circuit, nozzle seating and the electrode holder. The electrode holder had been modified to accept the PWP screw-in plasma welding electrodes as used in our range of plasma welding torches.

We successfully created the HD36 Plasma Welding Torch – meeting all the requirements, and resulting in one very happy client!

Do you have unusual welding requirements for your project? Get in touch today and learn how to handle the heat with PWP!

We’ve had another busy year full of achievements and product developments here at PWP, here’s a look back at our 2017 Product Highlights

99MBN Plasma Welding Torches

Due to the healthy requirement from the nuclear reprocessing industry, we have seen a growing demand for the 99MBN Plasma Welding Torches. Check out our video on the unusual features of this product here.

HD36

We modified this heavy-duty plasma cutting torch into a very heavy duty plasma welding torch! This was for a specific application in the additive manufacturing development programme. Check out the HD36 Plasma Welding Torch here.

Welding Lathe

Incorporating the first new Fronius 250Kg rotator in the UK, this welding lathe covers 50 – 250mm dia by 0-500mm long workpieces. The new Fronius rotator talks directly to the MIG welding machine calling the jobs upon demand.

Nuclear Weld Data Loggers

2017 saw an urgent need from the nuclear industry for weld data loggers with bespoke software to fit exact specifications. Alongside Triton Electronics, we fulfilled this requirement in very short lead time.

Bohler tubular hard facing wire

The UTP AF Robotic 600 Seamless Cores Hardfacing Wire has solved a significant problem for a particular customer who manufacturers auger bits. So far in 2017, they have ordered 1500Kg of this high-quality wire from us!

A fantastic year for Fronius sales

2017 was a fantastic year for sales of the Fronius welding machines; in fact, there has been a staggering 60% increase.

Special 200Kg aluminium wire bulk pack

A customer required a 200Kg bulk pack of 1.2mm aluminium 5182 welding wire! With the help of Veostalpine Bohler, this material was successfully produced and applied to the robotic welding setup.

What’s been your key product of the year?

If you would like to find out more about what PWP could do for you, get in touch today!

Welcome to PWP Industrial’s brand new and improved website, packed full of products, both old and new, as well as additional benefits, Our Online Experience is here for all your needs!

With the needs of the metal fabrication industry at the forefront, we’ve tailored our online offering to provide professional welders with everything they need. Browse our selection of essential welding tools, key safety equipment, abrasives, cleaners, and more! We have 1000s of products to cover every aspect of the welding process.

We know time is money – so we’ve made ordering easier for you. You can now open a trade account for a more straightforward and swifter ordering experience.

In need any information about our products or how to make the most of your Online Experience? Click here to contact PWP today.