Discover the benefits of using KUKA’s subcontract friction welding service across a multitude of applications.
Friction welding offers an abundance of solutions to some of industry’s toughest manufacturing challenges. Thanks to several key advantages, such as quality consistency, the ability to join many bi-metallic material combinations, and material waste reductions, friction welding delivers a time-efficient and cost-effective means to produce new components.
Subcontracting can also support risk mitigation, that might be associated with CAPEX investments, such as the purchase of expensive friction welding machinery, or increasing head count internally to accommodate and deliver new manufacturing processes in addition to training staff across new operational processes.
Enlisting the skills and experience of an established company, adept in the delivery of friction welding to help with your business’ deliverables, is a cost-effective solution that enables you to fulfil your manufacturing needs, from small runs to large volume production.
KUKA’s subcontract friction welding facility, based in Halesowen, at the heart of The Black Country, has been providing subcontract friction welding solutions for over half a century, executed upon the iconic Thompson Friction Welding machines that are manufactured at the very same facility. Our subcontract provision serves a number of industries, such as: Mining, Oil & Gas, Power Generation, Automotive, Green and Yellow Goods, Cryogenics and Printing* all of whom recognise the benefits delivered through utilising a subcontract friction welding provider.
Here, we highlight six of those benefits we attribute to rotary friction welding, as a subcontract service, above and beyond just the financial.
- Support with large projects or overspill
If business is flourishing, and you are fortunate enough to be manufacturing above your maximum capacity, you may need help with order fulfilment. By subcontracting your friction welding excess to KUKA, will enable your business to take on much larger projects. You can also talk to us about specialist applications, in collaboration with our on-site metallurgical laboratory, meaning you can even create customised solutions and expand your portfolio.
- Save costs and mitigate risk
Employ versus subcontract? This is a real dilemma many manufacturers are faced with. Do we invest in increasing our head count; training; accounting for some inefficiencies as new processes are established. Time savings are also key considerations in todays fast moving and dynamic manufacturing arena. Do you have the time to conceptualise, prove and deliver an ad-hoc process within your already diverse schedule? The question that engineers and manufacturers ask when considering their production joining and manufacturing processes is can we do this better, cheaper and more efficiently? – The answer is, yes, you can.
- Capitalise upon existing industry expertise
When using KUKA’s subcontracting friction welding service you will also be investing in our industry leading expertise. We have been working across a number of industry fields for many years, so why not utilise our vast experience to your advantage? We will work with you to identify the right solution for your specific manufacturing needs, and help alleviate any bottle necks. The provision of many pre and post weld services and applications provide you with a complete end-to-end friction welding subcontract service.
- Increase productivity
This has to be the most obvious benefit to using a subcontract service; the ability to satisfy demand. No one wants to tell a customer that their order can’t be fulfilled on time, or worse still, turn away business. By outsourcing, you can focus on your core business needs, and ensure that clients demands are satisfied.
- Flexibility
There are no Long term commitments, or contracted terms when subcontracting, which affords a level of flexibility that suits fluctuating volumes and demands. KUKA’s subcontract friction welding services enable you to utilise our industry leading expertise, as and when you need it.
- New processes and bi-metallic material joining
More often, manufacturers are bringing to market new products, derived from multiple material combinations, that can be difficult to join through traditional means, such as fusion welding. There may be times that we have to accept there are tasks that we can’t fulfil, as we either don’t own the technology or possess the knowledge to do so. As such, a specialist has to be sought. Being able to utilise the knowledge and expertise of a skilled subcontractor could be the difference in delivering a successful project. This could ultimately help to enhance your company’s reputation and gain competitive advantage.
This list is by no means exhaustive. It could be said that the benefits are endless, certainly true when operational continuity and product integrity within the success of your busines, are key drivers in the ‘for’ subcontract friction welding.
Subcontract friction welding from KUKA, is cost-efficient, is a superior bonding alternative and is suitable for mission critical applications – consider drill pipes and drill rods required to undertake tasks many, many tens of meters underground.
As pioneers in the field of friction welding, renowned the world over, we would love to understand your current friction welding needs, and the demands upon your business that we might be able to support, through our subcontract friction welding services.
Call 0121 585 0888 to find out more
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