WELDING & STEEL
ENGINEERING & FABRICATION
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
Stick welding (also called SMAW or MMA) is a versatile, tough method used for heavy-duty metalwork like steel fabrication and big steel builds. It works by using a metal rod – called a “stick” or electrode – that melts into the joint to bond the metal together. This stick is coated in flux, which melts at the same time to create a protective gas shield. This shield keeps the outside air from ruining the hot weld. As the equipment is simple, highly portable and does not require bulky gas tanks, it is the perfect choice for outdoor maintenance and repairs or rough job sites.
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), commonly referred to as MIG Welding, is a semi-automatic process that uses a continuously-fed wire electrode and a shielding gas to protect the weld area. As it works quickly on metals of almost any thickness, it is often the top choice for custom steel fabrication such as fencing or gates and trailers or vehicle repairs. Depending on the job, the machine can be adjusted to melt the wire in different ways – like a steady spray or quick short bursts – to get the perfect weld.
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
TIG welding (also called GTAW) is a highly precise method used to create incredibly clean, high-quality welds. Unlike other methods, the welding torch uses a special tip made of tungsten that never melts. Instead, the welder holds the torch in one hand to melt the metal, while using their other hand to manually feed a separate metal rod into the joint. A special gas flows through the torch to protect the weld from the air. Since it gives the welder total control, it is the best choice for tricky materials like aluminum and stainless steel. However, because it requires a lot of skill and takes much longer, it is usually reserved for specialized, high-end welding works.
Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
Flux-cored welding (also called FCAW) works a lot like MIG welding but is specially built to handle outdoor and windy jobs. Instead of using a solid wire, this method uses a hollow wire filled with flux. As the wire melts, the flux inside automatically creates its own protective gas cloud and a layer over the hot metal. This built-in shield blocks out the air protecting it from contamination so the weld stays strong. Since the wire makes its own protection, you often do not need to hook up a bulky, external gas tank which makes the machine easy to move around and highly effective for outdoor construction such as pipeline welding and heavy equipment repairs.
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PROUD RECIPIENTS OF
SAPPI SAFETY AWARD
Did you know Steel Fortress were the proud recipients of the SAPPI Safety Award for achieving 3 Million Manhours without an
LTI!