Thirteen staff completed the one-day TWI Foundation Award in Friction Stir Welding (delivered in Bahasa Malaysia, the national language). TWI specialists also reviewed the existing FSW formwork production (ensuring it was meeting welding specifications), conducted welding trials using the newly qualified welding staff, and assessed welds using visual inspection and mechanical testing.
To support the extra FSW work, MFE commissioned a new prototype FSW machine from their Taiwanese manufacturer. TWI assessed the system’s capabilities with on-site factory acceptance tests in Taiwan on behalf of MFE, and tested the formwork welds to match the standards required by MFE.
The prototype machine was found to produce even less distortion than the original test demonstrators, as the larger machine bed of the new machine was more effective at dissipating heat. MFE have now ordered seven of the machines to increase the production rate of the existing FSW production line.