From ovens to boilers and from mixing machines to grinders, producing industrial food processing equipment requires a high volume of welding operations. As in any industry, increasing productivity is a chief concern but food and beverage equipment manufacturers must also prioritize hygiene to ensure welds are food grade. To remain competitive, manufacturers must seek solutions that increase production speeds and minimize the risk of contamination.
Handheld laser welding has emerged as an ideal solution for many in the food industry as an easy-to-use technology that enables faster, more consistent welds and new equipment design possibilities.
Handheld Laser Welding Keeps Things Clean
Industrial food and beverage equipment relies on more than just welds to join part features – manufacturers also make use of fasteners such as nuts, bolts, washers, and rivets. Unlike in other industries, the use of fasteners, as well as threaded holes, must be considered in relation to food contact areas. Incorrect use of fasteners creates difficult-to-clean geometry that form microcosms for bacterial growth. This risk imposes limitations on how equipment is designed, not to mention increased fabrication costs.
The number of fasteners required in a piece of equipment can only be reduced somewhat by traditional welding methods like MIG and TIG, which introduce significant heat input that can damage or distort sensitive features. Laser welding, by comparison, generates considerably less heat during the welding process, making it highly useful for thinner metals and more sensitive parts. This reduction in heat input compared to MIG and TIG opens more fabrication options to designers to help minimize fastener use and reduce material costs.
Handheld laser welding also produces very high-quality welds with excellent and hygienic finishes. The laser welding process is resistant to defects like microcracking, a concern when welding thinner joints using traditional methods, minimizing the risk of bacterial growth. Handheld laser welding devices can also be used to spot weld with no part contact required, eliminating common resistance spot welding concerns like bacteria-friendly indentations and asymmetrical welds caused by issues like tip pressure and alignment.
The area of the weld seam cleaned with LightWELD after welding is rust free after exposure to salt (left) whereas the uncleaned area shows significant oxidation (right).
Some handheld laser welders like LightWELD also offer laser cleaning capabilities for pre-weld and post-weld cleaning. Pre-weld laser cleaning helps eliminate surface debris prior to welding that can cause unhygienic inclusions and other defects. Post-weld cleaning both improves visual appearance by removing discoloration and passivates stainless steel surfaces to resist corrosion and oxidation. Traditional weld cleaning methods are typically more time consuming and may themselves introduce additional safety or hygiene concerns.
Handheld Laser Welding Maximizes Productivity Amid Welding Labor Shortages
The welding industry has suffered from a labor shortage for years and this global deficit is only expected to grow. Some manufacturers have turned to handheld laser welding both to maximize the productivity of existing skilled welders and lower the barrier to entry for new welders.
One of laser welding’s key advantages is speed – welders can typically complete the same welds several times faster with laser welding when compared to MIG and TIG while also skipping post-weld steps like grinding. While laser welding is not a true replacement for traditional methods, it is often ideal for welding a variety of joint types in a range of materials and thicknesses, notably up to 5/16” in stainless steels. For welding applications that are a good fit for laser welding, the speed, quality, and consistency is hard to beat.
Handheld laser welding often makes hygienic joining of materials faster and easier.
Laser welding is also surprisingly easy to learn, at least compared to traditional welding methods. Arc welding can take years to master, limiting the ways new welders can contribute. By comparison, learning the basics of laser welding takes significantly less time. There is still plenty about the process worth mastering however and, ultimately, no replacement for time spent under the hood.
Getting Started with Laser Welding
Integrating laser welding equipment into your operation can seem intimidating, particularly for those with no laser welding experience. Fortunately, our laser welding experts are ready to help. Whether you are interested in handheld laser welding for food equipment or just want to try LightWELD for yourself, we’re here to make getting started easy.
Click here to get started. We’ll take it from there.
