Friction Stir Welding Takes Aluminum Tanks to New Heights
Stirweld, known for its activities in Friction Stir Welding -FSW technology, announced yesterday in a press release that they've entered a new phase in continuing their collaboration with TWI (The Welding Institute).
ยจThis collaboration is already leading to advances in tank manufacture for the aerospace sectors, so we are eager to see what we can achieve together in the coming year!ยจ
STIRWELD
TWI and Stirweld have announced a joint event that will showcase advances in friction stir welding (FSW) technology, with a focus on applications in aerospace. The event, scheduled for March 11, 2025, at TWI's Cambridge facility, will feature live demonstrations of Stirweld's retractable pin FSW head technology as part of the Aerospace Technology Institute's (ATI) publicly funded MASTER project. The showcase aims to highlight progress in welding lightweight materials, particularly aluminium hydrogen storage tanks for the aerospace sector.
The retractable pin FSW head developed by Stirweld represents a significant step forward in welding technology, combining Stirweld's engineering capabilities with TWI's research expertise. Laurent Dubourg, CEO of Stirweld, expressed optimism about the collaboration, citing the potential for new opportunities in advancing friction stir welding techniques. Kate Franklin, Section Manager at TWI, highlighted that the partnership has enabled TWI to align its research efforts with commercially available retractable pin FSW equipment, which is crucial for developing practical industrial solutions.
Retractable pin FSW is a solid-state welding process that is particularly well-suited for applications requiring high-quality joints, such as aerospace manufacturing. The collaboration between TWI and Stirweld underscores a shared commitment to exploring new uses for this technology and maintaining leadership in friction stir welding. As the industry moves towards more demanding applications, this partnership reflects an effort to ensure that welding solutions keep pace with evolving industrial needs.
I would also like to share a video I came across on Stirweld's YouTube channel. The description of the video reads as follows; ยจIn collaboration with the French National Center for Space Studies, we're pioneering a new approach to producing aluminum tanks. This method combines the strength and precision of Friction Stir Welding to deliver products of unparalleled quality.ยจ
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