Why is laser welding gaining more and more market share?

The uptake of lasers in the welding industry has grown significantly over time because of their high speed capabilities, precise control of process heat, and their reduced cost as competition grows and the technology matures.

Laser welding, both autogenous and with filler metal (powder or wire), is capable of process speeds measured in units of meters per minute. Such high process speeds offer a large potential productivity advantage compared to traditional welding processes typically in the mm to cm per minute range of travel speeds. From a metallurgical perspective, the laser is able to impart enough heat to the component to achieve full penetration (even on thick sections – 1inch thick plus with enough juice!) whilst impacting the absolute minimum amount of surrounding material in the HAZ. Getting the job done quickly and limiting the risks to properties with low heat input. There are some significant challenges in the background – fit up, precision in the prep, starting and stopping the weld, but practitioners are overcoming these challenges and banking on advances in automation, sensing, and process control. The final point is reduced equipment costs. More laser manufacturers are now competing in this space, and the cost (measured in $/kW) has been steadily decreasing for the past decade. Lasers are still expensive by welding machine standards, but for high productivity or repetitive applications, the business can be made to justify the higher upfront infrastructure costs. Put these three together: productivity, quality, and competitive pricing, it is no surprise that laser have and will likely continue to penetrate the welding market in the years ahead.