Robust and reliable

Commenting on the relationship between ESAB and FOREZ BENNES, Philippe Barry, Technical and Commercial Director at ERMES said: “Our customers’ demands primarily target our high levels of expertise and know-how. For this reason, FOREZ BENNES seeks reliable partners that listen and respond to requirements for welding services in a holistic way, taking into account materials, products, machines and consultancy services. That’s why FOREZ BENNES chose ESAB and ERMES as its preferred partners, building a strong and mutually beneficial relationship between the manufacturer (ESAB), the local distributor and service provider (ERMES) and the end-user (FOREZ BENNES).

“Equally important for FOREZ BENNES was the need to reduce energy consumption, so it was clear that the technology we offered had to be more energy efficient than the company’s existing equipment.”

In 2014, FOREZ BENNES was seeking a new solution to further improve the production of skips. It was also looking for suppliers that would listen to its needs and show true understanding of its daily challenges, both in terms of welding processes and in terms of service.

FOREZ BENNES found the answer to these needs by working with and building a strong long-term relationship with ESAB and ERMES.

To meet FOREZ BENNES’ demanding requirements, ESAB suggested a new model of welding machine: The Warrior. The Warrior is the result of a long-time collaboration between ESAB US and engineers from ESAB Europe headquarters in Sweden. And, thanks to its ‘voice of the client’ ethos, ESAB has developed The Warrior to perfectly match the evolving needs of its customers.

“A major part of my role is to meet clients on their shop floor in order to understand and respond to their requirements”, said Ludovic Ceugniez, Technical and Commercial Engineer at ESAB for the Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne and Burgundy areas.

“It is crucial for ESAB to listen to its customers and adapt its products accordingly. In my opinion, the success of the Warrior welding machine stems from continuous communication between users, our engineers, and the local suppliers. The Warrior is an ideal solution for a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, constructions, sewage, public works and maintenance, marine constructions and energy.”

Developed in 2013, the machine uses the latest generation of technology; it is easy to use and adapts seamlessly to any welding application. It boasts excellent electrical efficiency and consistently delivers results of the highest quality.

In addition, the Warrior is an exceptionally versatile multi-process machine. It supports GMAW (MIG), FCAW (flux-cored), SMAW (stick) and GTAW (TIG) welding, as well as offering facilities for ACAG (arc gouging). It is capable of delivering up 500 A on a 60% duty cycle, and delivers exceptional short-arc performance.

Designed for maximum reliability and featuring robust construction, the Warrior has an IP23 ingress protection rating, making it ideal for use in harsh environments, indoors or outdoors. Furthermore, the machine’s large and clear operator interface panel is easy to use and to read even outdoors in bright sunlight.

The modules that make up the WARRIOR are light and are easy to remove and re-assemble to facilitate transport between sites. The wire feed mechanism is very reliable, being based on a unique ESAB system that is well proven in service. The machine also offers an automatic arc lift function, which, after each stop, gives the wire end the perfect shape for starting the next weld. Compatible with all normal generators and sources of power the Warrior can be used in almost any location.

The patented TrueArcVoltage system in combination with an ESAB PSF torch, guarantees the correct arc voltage, despite the possible voltage drops or surges produced by the welding cables. This ensures that consistent welding results are achieved, with any length of cable up to 35m.

“The main advantage when working with ESAB and ERMES is that many elements of the Warrior can be customised by ERMES to make the machines easier for our staff to work with,” added Laurent Bourrin, Plant Director at FOREZ BENNES. “The three year warranty and the local presence of ERMES for after-sales support are also real benefits for our company.”

ESAB also provided additional support services for the project.

“While working with with FOREZ BENNES, service and onsite support were provided right from the start of the project through to the delivery and post-delivery stages. In addition, the company benefitted from our consultancy services at application level. Setting up a stock of products and spare parts for the client, monitoring the use of the machines, as well as the availability of local technicians to service any brand needs – all of these factors combined make up our after-sales care programme”, added Ludovic Ceugniez, Technical and Commercial Engineer at ESAB for the Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne and Burgundy areas.

Guy Chanavat, Production Manager at FOREZ-BENNES enthused: “We are happy to know that we can have our machines customised, should the need arise, thanks to the local suppliers. ERMES’ flexibility as a distributor and its continued support for technical training to our welders to optimise the use of the materials and machines were truly pivotal for the success of our project”.