ESAB needed to produce a sample piece for three new cutting torches that would be presented at ESAB's Global Gas Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden. The conference was scheduled for the first week in December and ESAB did not have the time to produce actual working samples using the traditional machining/production methods for these torches. They felt that being able to produce samples of the new torches would give them a competitive edge for this product. At this point ESAB decided to contact the Additive Manufacturing Center at SiMT for help.        

The Solution

SiMT used ESAB's CAD design to build the torch parts using the SLA iPro™ system and the material Accura®25. SiMT then sent the parts to be electroplated with a polished finish in nickel and brass. The final prototype would then have a similar appearance to the final manufactured product that ESAB would be selling. They would then have the capability of presenting the customer with an actual replica of the final product which is a powerful selling tool compared to presenting 3-Dimensional pictures on a computer screen. The entire process took only two weeks from start to finish. This would have taken up too six weeks or longer with traditional manufacturing methods.

"SiMT offered a very fast turnaround time and everyone that sees the results are impressed", says Shiva Perisetty, ESAB Gas Apparatus Engineer. 

About ESAB

ESAB was founded in 1904 by Oscar Kjellberg following his invention of the covered welding elctrode. Today the company produces consumables and equipment for virtually every welding and cutting process and application. More than 100 years of continuous research, development, and manufacture have made ESAB the world leader in welding and cutting and also an international supplier of products, know-how, and services that none can match.