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The development of solutions that reduce welding fume emissions has been sought for years. But even if less fumes are produced during welding, inhaling welding fumes is fundamentally harmful to health. In fact, certain fumes can even lead to cancer of the respiratory tract with prolonged exposure. For this reason, the extraction of welding fumes is now mandatory and injuries can even lead to the shutdown of a company.  

Everyone could see that: In recent years, the limit values for welding have been constantly reduced, which poses great challenges for those responsible for health protection and occupational safety for welding specialists in manufacturing companies. A simple principle – the so-called STOP principle – serves as a good guide to compliance.

At a certain point in time, it is essential to switch your welding production from manual to automated welding. Increasing quantities, short delivery times and high quality requirements then leave no alternative. Last but not least, every employer wants to protect their welding specialists from monotonous work. However, the step into automation is not always easy and must be well thought out. But what exactly does automation mean in welding technology?

As an in-house research and development laboratory at ABICOR BINZEL, the ARCLab is a facility that many welding technology companies would certainly like to have. Measurements, analyzes and tests are carried out on around 100 test systems in an area of approx. 1200 m² here at the Buseck site. One of these test systems is the double test rig.

There is no question that welding fumes from MIG/MAG welding and TIG welding are extremely harmful to health. There are various options for protection against these fume gases. One of these is a fresh air ventilated welding helmet, which falls under the category of personal protective equipment. Such a welding helmet consists of a predominantly sealed head part into which fresh air is supplied. The resulting slight overpressure prevents the penetration of welding fumes. But what about all the other employees working around the welding station? That's the point. Personal protective equipment only comes into play when all other protective measures cannot be implemented.