Published on 28 January 2013
'Save us money by changing the joining process' was the succinct message TWI faced when Dukinfield Metal Spinning contacted Abington.
The Industrial Member makes heat exchangers for the domestic market. One of its components, of which it turns out 300 a day, requires a joint between a large circular copper component and its ferritic stainless steel centre.
Before contacting TWI Dukinfield used silver soldering and oxy-acetalene heating. But the silver solder filler wire is extremely costly, and there is also a high degree of wastage.
TWI recommended that the job could be done almost as quickly without changing the joint configuration using low level mechanised TIG. The process was going to take 30 seconds more per joint but the cost of consumables was slashed to some 25% of the original cost per joint. The net gains for Dukinfield were enormous.
As a result it asked TWI to train three of its staff in TIG welding appreciation and also develop procedures for mechanised used of TIG in the same application.
For information about TWI's capabilities please contact us.