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Joining Technologies Announces New Laser Additive Manufacturing Facility

New division to produce parts for the aerospace, power, and marine engine industries

EAST GRANBY, Conn.--A new laser cladding work cell that Joining Technologies is adding to its laser additive manufacturing division will be housed, along with other equipment, in a new production facility that the company is opening this fall. The standalone 10,000-square-foot, multipurpose industrial flex building is located at 17 Kripes Road, East Granby Conn., less than a mile from Joining Technologies' headquarters.

The new facility will be dedicated to laser additive (laser cladding) manufacturing, a process used to improve the mechanical and corrosion resistance properties of a wide range of parts. With drive through and dock height access, the building will have the capacity to lift and manipulate parts up to 3.5 tons. It will contain laser cladding equipment capable of processing parts up to 40 feet long. The facility's location near Bradley International Airport and major highways makes it easily accessible to customers.

"We are excited to open this new facility in response to our growth in this area," said Dave Hudson, company president. "The new wholly-owned division of Joining Technologies is expected to add several jobs over the next year."

The building will also be the future home of a laser additive technology institute, reported to be North America's first and only center of excellence for laser additive manufacturing. The joint venture with a European-based authority on laser additive manufacturing processes will focus on laser additive processes for OEMs in the aerospace, power generation, marine engine, and other high value industries. Research and development will be conducted to produce methods and parameters to repair high value parts and put them back into service, or create new parts using laser additive processes.

Joining Technologies (www.joiningtech.com) also recently announced that it is using its expanded capabilities in laser beam welding and electron beam (EB) welding to take on more welding projects in the medical device and aerospace industries. The company says that it is better able to streamline the manufacturing process for a variety of products that use both laser and EB welding for different steps, including sensors, medical devices, and products that require a sealed vacuum. According to Joining Technologies, the company takes full advantage of each technology's particular advantages when fusing together complex geometries and meeting demands for superior metallurgy.

"Joining Technologies is one of the very few firms fully competent in both technologies, giving customers access to the optimal choice for precision welding," said Hudson. "Our capabilities give our customers the best of both worlds. By expanding our capacity for both EB and laser within the same facility, we offer our customers a comprehensive and unbiased approach to joining."

Having access to both technologies can be especially useful for jobs that require a vacuum within the finished part. Generally, a laser will be used wherever possible to keep cycle times and costs down; EB welding is employed to achieve the deeper penetration welds or to create a vacuum.