Welding research services

Applications manager, Peter Jowett, explains: “Our new sub-contract welding division has proved a considerable success, attracting projects from a number of sectors. With that in mind, we decided the time was right to extend our offering to include research into welding techniques – particularly when involving small-scale components or the jointing of exotic and particularly difficult to weld alloys. Accordingly, we have installed one of our Crawford Swift Powerstir FSW ‘laboratory’ machines at the facility expressly for that purpose.”

PTG Heavy Industries' new research service uses a latest generation Powerstir FSW machine that is capable of welding both flat and cylindrical surfaces. 

Research bodies that have invested in Powerstir FSW laboratory machines include the ISF Welding and Joining Institute at RWTH Aachen University in North Rhine-Westphalia, and The University of Manchester’s Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).

Jowett continues: “Research departments from across the global aerospace and transport sectors have made Powerstir machines central to their studies into creating stronger, lighter and more aesthetically pleasing welds. It is also worth noting that here in the UK, The Welding Institute uses a Powerstir machine for its ongoing work into FSW processes, joint strength and tool development.”

As part of its FSW research activities, PTG Heavy Industries has successfully welded aerospace-grade steel alloy and aerospace-grade titanium in thicknesses of 3 and 8mm, using its fixed pin tooling techniques. The company says it has also achieved excellent results when working with various exotic aluminium alloys, ranging from 2 to 35mm in thickness, in a number of challenging configurations.