Cleveland, Ohio – AT&F Steel has opened its newest state-of-the-art welding center here. The multi-million dollar hybrid laser arc welding (HLAW) facility is the largest in the U.S.
Merging the advantages of conventional MIG welding with the versatility of laser welding, AT&F’s HLAW procedure offers fabrication designers and engineers the most component design flexibility to date. Hybrid laser welds are highly uniform with much less heat input than conventional welds. This, combined with a welding speed of up to 250 inches per minute, greatly reduces the component distortion, producing a highly standardized applied without material deformation.
The HLAW facility can adapt to large-scale projects, with a working envelope of 14 x 60 feet, as well as highly customized components, as the process allows. From ship and bridge building to nuclear power applications, hybrid laser welding reliably produces the highest quality welds at amazing speeds, says Michael Ripich, president.
“It is a revolution in welding,” adds Ripich. “For critical applications where weight and straightness are key, this is the perfect technology. Hybrid laser welding will reduce production time and costs as well as produce the most consistent components.”
Now in its 70th year, AT&F has built its business on its large-scale capabilities and quality. The HLAW facility was a logical addition to the range of welding solutions that AT&F provides.
“We are the leader in our industry, providing our customers with the best solutions to their challenging fabrication needs. That’s how we got here, and we will continue to innovate,” says Ripich.
AT&F Steel, a division of AT&F (American Tank and Fabricating Company) of Cleveland, Ohio, has long been an innovator in the steel processing and custom manufacturing industry. Specializing in value-added manufacturing services, AT&F Steel is a steel-processing service center and provider of materials, fabricating, component manufacturing and assemblies. The company provides custom steel manufacturing solutions to industrial manufacturing companies throughout the world. Following an increased demand for metal fabricating in the United States, the company has developed unique services.