Laser Welders Brings Increased Productivity
It can take years to become proficient in TIG welding. Innovations and investments in high-powered laser welding can dramatically reduce both the training time and experience needed to produce high-quality fabrication builds.
The turnaround time for high-quality finished products using laser welding is estimated to be 25 percent of traditional TIG welding. Examples of this time savings include minimizing or deleting pre- and post-processing steps, such as the use of welding fixtures or the need to pre-brush metals.
One of the first District 1 contractors to utilize this technology, Acosta Sheet Metal Manufacturing, has seen this dramatically increased productivity firsthand since investing in their laser welder in 2021. Vice President Michelle Acosta said the purchase of the laser welding equipment has already positively impacted the efficiency of their workflow planning along with their capability to deliver consistently high-quality products, while greatly enhancing the speed of delivery to their customers.
The Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 104 and Bay Area Industry Training Fund (JATC) have also made an investment in the equipment and practices needed to train the next generation of welders utilizing laser welding technology. The East, North and South Bay apprenticeship locations are fully outfitted to train apprentices and journeypersons. Key to this training is the proper use of PPE and establishing a safe working environment.
Contractors looking for more information on laser welding training should contact their local JATC coordinator or SMACNA associate member IPG Photonics.