How to Increase Welding Productivity with a Positioner

Positioners are beneficial for welders: they add ergonomic working comfort and ensure a safer working environment.

Additionally, using a positioner increases welding productivity by as much as 70% providing the quickest means of both rotating and tilting through 360 degrees while allowing maximum access to the workpiece.

The fact that work-pieces can be adjusted to the best possible down hand welding positions makes this achievable.

Typical applications for heavy-duty positioners

• Automated welding of heavy thick-walled dish ends

• Cladding of pressure vessel components

• Narrow gap and tandem narrow gap welding stations of thick-walled pressure vessels

• Foundations for wind energy plants

• Propeller housings, winches, and other shipbuilding and offshore industry components

What is involved in the welding process

The welding process involves a sequence of operations which includes presenting the workpiece to the welding device (or vice versa), creating relative motion between the workpiece and the welding device, controlling the welding process, eg speed, direction, current, etc, and re-positioning the workpiece for the next weld.

Automated welding is defined as automatically controlling the relative movement between the welding head and workpiece. Automatic welding is used with variety of welding process including metal inert gas (MIG), tungsten inert gas (TIG) and submerged arc welding (SAW).

The main benefits attributed to automated welding are improved economy derived from faster cycle times and consistent quality due to reduced level of weld defects from a more precise control of the welding process.

On the down side, welding geometry tends to be restricted to simple straight lines, and setting time is increased.

The Use of Welding Positioners

Welding positioners can be applied to any welding-related task; as they rotate 360° the object to be welded, this allows the welder or fabricator to stand in one position to work on a level, flat surface. With this, the welder has the luxury to stand in one place and focus on the weld process without having to take any interruptions to reposition himself or without having to shift the gun constantly.

While working a welding job, you should always prioritise safety. This includes maintaining all of your welding equipment and positioner components regularly. Other than that, welding positioners are strong, capable, and advanced devices that encourage highly productive and economical work. These products do exceptionally well in minimising vertical runs and overhead welds.

OLIVTE recommends and stocks with confidence the premium range of welding ositioners and are committed to a 100% product and service back up.

Need help to decide the most suitable positioning equipment for your job? Want to add comfort to your welder whilst improving productivity?

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