The alternative energy industry continues to focus on wind power as a viable addition to address the ever-expanding global energy demand. With this in mind, Lincoln Electric has recently hosted more than 120 industry professionals interested in learning more about wind tower fabrication for several daylong seminars.
Seminar attendees traveled from across the United States and as far away as Brazil and Portugal to Lincoln’s Cleveland, Ohio, headquarters to learn more about wind tower fabrication. Each seminar featured an industry overview, technology sessions, and live welding demonstrations for companies already fabricating wind towers and those currently considering it.
“Governments in every corner of the globe, including the United States, continue to focus on alternative energy, especially wind,” says Patrick Wahlen, global segment business director, power generation. “Many of our customers want to add wind tower fabrication to their portfolio, and this seminar shares insight into the industry, guidance on capitalizing on this market and an overview of Lincoln’s product portfolio.”
Whalen added that the company has long offered a comprehensive welding solution for wind tower fabrication. “In 2008, there were 38 new wind tower manufacturing facilities constructed globally, and 33 of those facilities used Lincoln products,” he says.
Due to its Waveform Control Technology®, Lincoln Electric’s Power Wave® AC/DC 1000® SD is the leading power source for wind tower fabrication. When combined with Lincoln’s process knowledge, it can increase productivity by 30 percent or more. Lincoln also has a complete offering of consumables designed specifically for wind tower welding applications, including tacking, longitudinal can seam, circumferential can seam, circumferential ring and flange, base flange, entry hatch, and rotor shaft.
Steve Knapple, welding engineer for tower fabricator Katana-Summit, attended the May Lincoln seminar and says that “Lincoln did its homework when it got into this industry. They shared insight into areas of opportunity and demonstrated different levels of solutions, which was very helpful as the attendees represented established wind tower manufacturers as well as startups. I also had the opportunity to meet others who do what we do and share best practices. It was a valuable experience.”
For more information e-mail windtower@lincolnelectric.com or visit www.lincolnelectric.com.
