ESAB Celebrates 110 Years
Its industry firsts include development of the TIG and GMAW processes and the invention of the first friction-stir welding machine.
Posted: September 15, 2014
September 2014 marks the 110th anniversary of ESAB Welding & Cutting Products (Florence, SC). A world leader in welding and cutting technology, with the broadest, most complete line of products and solutions for industry, the company’s reach extends to almost every nation in the world, with more than 8,700 employees, and manufacturing facilities across four continents.
This history of innovation began in 1904 when Oscar Kjellberg, a welding pioneer, submitted a hand-written patent for the covered electrode. Kjellberg’s invention was more than the introduction of a unique new product; it represented the beginning of the modern era in welding. This revolutionary invention also marked the beginning of Kjellberg’s company, Electriska Svesnings-Aktiebolaget (ESAB).
Throughout the years, the company has “brought welding to the world” with groundbreaking innovations. Its industry firsts include development of the TIG and Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) processes and the invention of the first friction-stir welding machine.
Innovations continued throughout the second half of the twentieth century and the new millennium has most recently witnessed new standards of high speed Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) and the next generation ICE™ process. The company’s technology addresses virtually every welding and cutting application and helps create a vast range of products and projects used in environments from the ocean floor to outer space.
As the demand for new welding and cutting solutions within every industry continues to grow, this product range also develops to embrace the most advanced arc and gas welding equipment, manual and automated plasma cutting products, CNC cutting systems, welding automation and robotics. These are supported by an unparalleled range of welding consumables, accessories and personal protection equipment (PPE).
The 2014 acquisition of Victor Technologies, a pre-eminent manufacturer of cutting, gas control and welding solutions with widely recognized brands, has further expanded ESAB’s product portfolio making it the broadest array of solutions for the global welding and cutting industry. Like ESAB, Victor has a long history of innovation, having recently celebrated its centennial year.
As part of the Colfax Corporation, one of the world’s leading diversified manufacturing companies, the company’s values are based on continuous technical innovation and total commitment to serving the needs of its vast customer base. It will continue to put its customers and environmental responsibilities first as part of its commitment to excellence in welding and cutting.
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