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SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN

SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN



Sustainability by Design

We have been working meticulously to carve out our position as an innovation leader in welding technology. It is therefore no surprise that our research and development work in the last 40 years has resulted in numerous milestones in welding technology, which at the same time have always focused on quality, resource conservation and sustainability. Our innovations always aim to provide customers with the highest quality, while also saving valuable resources, be it time and money, or energy and materials.

Five World Firsts from 1981 to 2022

1981 TransArc 500: The World’s First Primary Transistor-Switched Inverter Welding System

A real milestone, not only in the history of welding technology, but also for sustainability: the Transarc 500 boasted around a third less power consumption, raw material savings of around 80% compared to conventional welding systems at the time, and a uniquely high level of efficiency. The multiprocess capability of the system, including impulse welding, was also way ahead of its time.

1998 TransPuls Synergic (TPS): The First Digitally Process-Controlled Welding System

This digital revolution redefined welding technology, as it provided reproducible welding results of unprecedented quality. By digitally controlling the arc, we were able to develop the world’s most compact MIG/Mag pulse arc system (the TPS 2700). Thanks to various assistance programs, welding became faster and more efficient than ever before, and the menu-driven operating concept helped to reduce training times and avoid errors.

2005 With Cold Metal Transfer, we brought about a paradigm shift in welding technology. 

Thanks to CMT, it was possible to thermally join galvanized steel and aluminum sheets for the first time ever. Even wafer-thin aluminum sheets (from a thickness of 0.3 millimeters) can now be joined using this process. The process also reduces welding spatter by up to 90% compared to a standard dip transfer arc. Due to its high process stability and significantly lower heat input, it is also ideal for metal 3D printing.

2013 Prepared for Industry 4.0 with TPS/i

The Trans Process Solution / intelligent revolution (TPS/i) high performance welding computer was the answer to Industry 4.0. With this solution, full connectivity made its way into welding technology with Ethernet, Wifi, Bluetooth and user management software NFC. When used in combination with the WeldCube Premium data management and analysis software, brand-new possibilities for optimizing efficiency and welding quality became possible. 

2022 Full Flexibility with High-End iWave Multiprocess PRO Welding System

This latest Fronius innovation combines all shielding gas welding processes at the same high standard. The modular system can be assembled individually according to customer requirements. This means that it can also be adapted at any time as new challenges emerge.

All these generations of technology were unique in terms of their arc, and their highly efficient, smart design made them way ahead of their time. If we are to be prepared for Industry 5.0 and all the challenges yet to come, resting on our laurels is not an option. Not to mention the fact that sustainable resource conservation is attracting more and more attention in the welding industry. We want to reflect this evolution with the relevant products.

Evidence Over Emotion

In times of increasing climate change and a growing resource scarcity, discussions and debates are becoming increasingly emotional. Claiming that our products are sustainable is one thing, but proving it is another. That’s where the “Sustainability by Design” team comes in. Our colleagues in this department are working tirelessly to assess the impact of our systems on the environment. Life cycle analyses are carried out step by step, where the ecological footprint is considered down to the fine detail. We have concrete figures that show the results speak for themselves. The entire product life cycle has to be considered, from the supply chain to production, transport to the customer, and the application phase to the end of life.  

In order to achieve this, the six-person team, which is based in the field of research and development, works with several hundred technicians on sustainable solutions. The aim of the life cycle analysis is to assess our products with respect to the ecological dimension of sustainability, so that we can further improve it. We follow scientific, fact-based approaches and have our work regularly reviewed externally, for example by the renowned Fraunhofer Institute.

» In our “Sustainability by Design” program, we collect data and calculate LCAs (life cycle analyses) so that we can establish what environmental impact our systems have in which product life phase. These findings are then fed back into the product development process, allowing us to optimize the next generation of products. «

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David Schönmayr, Team Leader for Product Sustainability

What Happens in the LCA?

When we carry out an LCA, we’ll go as far as to hit our products with a hammer if we have to, to break down even the smallest components into the individual materials. In our chemistry laboratory, we even throw microchips into the acid bath to collect the tiniest amounts of gold, for example. However, since we cannot and do not want to destroy everything with a hammer, we mainly rely on external data, for example, from our suppliers, recycling partners, the Repair Center International, and also from secondary databases such as EcoInvent. This data all feeds into the complex life cycle analysis, as this is the only way we can achieve our aim of determining the carbon footprint of the individual components, as well as other environmental factors such as metallic and fossil resource consumption and dust emissions.  

The life cycle analysis that we are currently preparing for TPS/i will soon provide us with important insights which can be applied to future welding innovations.  However, we can’t reveal any more at this point in time.   

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