FACE TO FACE
Fronius iWave is used both manually and in robot applications or at the heart of automation systems.
new helmets and more. Health protection is a top priority for us, and I lead a very active interdisciplinary working group on this topic.
The topic of decarbonisation of welding has also been a major focus for us. We were the first to conduct a life cycle assessment( LCA) of real welding applications, which we now use to develop solutions for our customers to help them use resources as efficiently as possible in their production( e. g. by saving shielding gas). We have been awarded EcoVadis gold for the second time in a row.
Last, but not least, I would also like to mention our Prototyping and Manufacturing Centre which has established itself over the past few years as a solutions provider with concentrated welding expertise for our customers. our 80th anniversary this year and currently hold 1,752 active patents. Our two strategic business segments are Fronius Welding and Fronius Solar & Energy, where we had around 6,700 employees worldwide( at the end of 2024). Fronius enjoys a current export share of 90 per cent with 37 international subsidiaries and a network of sales partners in over 60 countries.
In addition to improving our global presence, we have also positioned ourselves in various segments and developed a broad portfolio for different industries. One of our strengths is that we can offer excellent welding solutions for an incredible variety of metalworking companies— whether automotive manufacturing, commercial transportation, heavy machinery or more.
One of the secrets of our success is certainly our CMT process, in which we remain the global leader not only in automation but also in various other application areas. We are continuously developing this process; for example, we set a completely new standard with our new 3D Additive energy control( based on CMT) in 2024.
We have also launched a lot of new products and services over these past two years and have achieved much in recent years with our in-house torch development and production. We have the right torch for every challenge. It’ s a huge advantage when the welding machine and torch come from the same developer and are perfectly coordinated. Our customers’ feedback confirms this time and again.
When I think of torches, I immediately think of ergonomics and this brings me to a central topic that we have been intensively addressing over the past two years: Health & Safety. We initiated scientific studies on welding fume protection with well-known research institutions and collaborated with occupational health and safety associations. We have also expanded our portfolio to include efficient welding fume extraction systems, developed a new extraction welding torch, launched
The Fronius Cold Metal Transfer( CMT) welding process.
ISMR: What, in your view, are important market trends and challenges that feed into your technology strategy? How are you responding to these?
HL: We are in a time of change and uncertainty, but I also see this challenge as an opportunity. In North America, for example, numerous companies are bringing their production back to the U. S. and building up capacity. This brings us to one important topic: the shortage of skilled( welding) workers.
ISMR October 2025 | ismr. net | 29