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Smart , high-end TPS / i TWIN tandem welding systems for synchronised welding with two individually controllable arcs and PMC TWIN / CMT TWIN welding processes .
Fronius Perfect Welding business unit
( Figures as per 31 December 2021 )
Export ratio : 91 % Active patents : 1,028 Years of experience : 72 Subsidiaries : 25 Representatives : 59
0.3mm ). It also seeks to be the innovation leader in sustainability .
“ We place a special focus on quality , repairability , recycling and long service life as early as the development stage of our products to ensure a sustainable resource use . Our welding instruments are characterised , in particular , by high levels of energy efficiency . We were the first manufacturer to integrate transistor-based inverter technology , for example . This translates to around one third lower electricity consumption and about 80- per cent savings in terms of raw materials . Sustainability is anchored in our company DNA . Our pillars of sustainable management , where we measure our achievements , are Planet , People and Profit ,” continued Scherleitner .
Fronius was awarded with a prestigious Silver Status sustainability rating from EcoVadis in 2022 , and 81 % in the S-Rating Sustainability Test from SAQ ( an evidencebased supplier sustainability assessment on the NQC platform ).
“ We don ’ t make success dependent on financial profit alone , but always take a holistic view of our business activities . What impact do they have on people and the environment ? How can we manage risks on a long-term basis ? And how do we make an effective contribution to a sustainable world worth living in ? These are the considerations that make us more crisis-resistant and create added value for our customers . When it comes to environmental and climate protection , we have set ourselves some ambitious targets . For instance , we want to stop using fossil fuels at all Fronius sites in Austria and switch to 100 % renewable energy sources ,” added Scherleitner .
In production , cleanliness is a key criterion : impurities on the component must be removed in advance so that various process steps can be carried out correctly . This is important for processes such as adhesion and sealing , painting and printing , as well as brazing and welding . The Acerios system from Fronius is designed to enable environmentally friendly surface cleaning using plasma technology .
“ In the industry , material cleaning is usually done by chemical processes . However , instead of this , we use the plasma arc to clean the surface of materials as a sustainable solution . That is quite revolutionary . For example , our ACERIOS hot active plasma technology removes particulate and film impurities from metallic and non-metallic surfaces . AUDI has been using this process on thin aluminium body parts for the last two years . It has substantially reduced cleaning costs in those areas where sheet metal has to be prepared for stud welding . At the same time , resource efficiency has also been increased ,” Scherleitner told ISMR .
A new generation of Fronius MagicCleaner is also available in two models . This advanced electro-chemical cleaner is designed to deliver a finish on stainless steel TIG welds and surfaces .
Welding market trends
“ The welding industry is developing well , and demand is strong . In fact , 2022 has been our best year ever for welding . We have full order books and see this positive trend in our Perfect Welding Business Unit ’ s 25 subsidiaries and from our representatives worldwide . It seems the MMA welding market is slightly declining , but the GMAW market ( MIG / MAG ) is increasing . Welding professionals are in high demand ,” Harald Scherleitner told ISMR .
He pointed out ongoing industry trends such as lack of welders ; wire arc additive manufacturing ; growing applications for cobots / automation and digitisation .
“ China is by far the largest welding
Above : Fronius iWave welding technology .
market with very high growth potential , even with lockdowns and the COVID-19 situation . Asian markets , such as Thailand , Vietnam and Japan , are also very strong . Our main business is currently split between Asia ( 30 %), Europe ( 60 %) and the North American continent / Middle East . We are projecting a 2-6 % growth in the business . Our primary goal is to reduce the backlog , which was mainly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic , and to work towards normalising our delivery times again ,” he explained .
“ We are quite optimistic about the outlook for 2023 . We see a shift away from the big welding processes to more gas metal arc welding and , of course , more automated solutions ,” he added .
In terms of overall growth levels for Fronius , he projects a minimum growth rate of 15 % this year , in comparison to last year .
AUDI has been using ACERIOS hot active plasma technology to clean thin aluminium body parts .