The welding and cutting of steel and other metals takes place to some extent in most industries. The most familiar applications for ESAB’s products are in the production of capital goods and infrastructure assets such as ships, trains and bridges. Process industries such as food, drink, paper, plastics and energy also make extensive use of plant and machinery, the manufacture of which involves an element of welding. Although steel remains the most widely used metal, advanced alloys are being increasingly used to construct high performance aluminium sections of boats and ships, and in the automotive industry.
Major global end-user segments are:
Shipbuilding and offshore industries, which are amongst the largest and most demanding users of both welding and cutting products;
Construction, where welding plays an important role in the fabrication of buildings, bridges, railways, and everything needed to support expanding infrastructure. This is particularly growing in the world’s emerging markets;
Transport (including automotive and mobile machinery), which requires technically demanding welding solutions within highly automated production environments. This sector also includes ‘off road’ vehicles such as excavators, dumpers, and agricultural equipment, which also require high levels of welding;
Oil and gas and process industries, which includes refineries, petrochemicals, pulp and paper and food. These use many types of material, including stainless steels and alloy materials that require technically demanding welding solutions;
The energy sector which uses considerable quantities of welding consumables in the construction of nuclear and other energy generating plants. Wind towers are a rapidly growing sub segment of the electricity generating industry, the construction of which, uses relatively high levels of welding consumables; and
Pipelines and pipe mills. This industry segment is related to the oil and gas industry, but is focussed on the production and installation of oil and gas pipeline networks across countries and continents, for example from Siberia to Europe.