stainlesstec makes welded assemblies in stainless steel and aluminium for machinery, plant engineering and technically demanding applications. We take on not only the welding but, on request, the manufacture of every component required – from laser cutting and punching through bending to machining and surface finishing.
The result is not a collection of separate parts but a dimensionally accurate, repeatable assembly, ready to install if required.
We work to technical drawings, CAD data and customer-specific production specifications – as a single special structure, prototype, small batch or recurring assembly. Typical assemblies:
Machine frames and substructures
Enclosures and housings
Vessels and tanks
Consoles and brackets
Panelling and covers
Tube and sheet metal structures
welded section structures
components for machinery and plant
customer-specific special structures
Our focus is on assemblies where material, dimensional accuracy, weld quality and subsequent processing all have to work together reliably.
Welded stainless steel assemblies
With welded stainless steel assemblies, the strength of the joint is not the only consideration: grade, heat input, welding sequence, corrosion resistance and surface requirements all have to be built into the production plan.
We process a range of weldable stainless grades – including widely used materials such as 1.4301, 1.4307, 1.4404 and 1.4571, plus any other grades a project calls for. Depending on the application we allow for:
filler metals matched to the material
controlled heat input
back purging the weld root
avoiding contamination
requirements for heat tint and post-weld treatment
visible surfaces and surface quality
project-specific material and production documentation
Aluminium allows assemblies that are light and structurally demanding at the same time. Welding, however, has to allow for its high thermal conductivity, the oxide layer, how it deforms and the properties of the particular alloy.
stainlesstec processes the common weldable aluminium alloys, for instance from the AlMg and AlMgSi groups, and matches process and filler metal to base material and application. That is of particular interest for lightweight machine components, enclosures, frames and special technical structures.
That allows every step to be aligned before production starts. For our customers it means fewer interfaces, less coordination and one point of contact for the whole assembly.
Dimensional accuracy is not created at final inspection
A welded assembly can be built from perfectly made parts and still be out of tolerance once welded. The reason: local heat input makes the material expand, and it contracts again as it cools. With several welds these effects accumulate across the whole structure. Production planning therefore takes account of:
Welding sequence
The order of the individual welds shapes how stresses and distortion develop within the structure.
Fixturing and jigs
Suitable fixtures help to locate components repeatably during production.
Weld design
Not every weld that can be drawn is ideal in production.
Heat input
Process and parameters have to be matched to material, thickness and design.
Tolerances
Functional dimensions and mating faces have to be considered when planning the whole sequence.
The aim is not merely a good weld but an assembly that holds its dimensions.
Repeat accuracy in small batches
On a one-off, an experienced welder can compensate for a great deal as the work proceeds. On a small batch that is not enough: locating, welding sequence and machining have to be defined so that the tenth or fiftieth part has the required properties too.
For recurring small-batch assemblies we therefore use defined work sequences and suitable welding and assembly fixtures. That improves repeatability and reduces the effort on follow-up orders.
Designing for manufacture
Ideally we are not brought in once every design detail is fixed – small adjustments can often simplify the manufacture of a welded assembly considerably. For example:
better placement of welds
better access
adjusted bend radii
suitable joint gaps
locating features in laser-cut or punched parts
fewer unnecessary individual parts
avoiding heat input that is hard to control
a more sensible division of the structure
On request we therefore look not only at how an assembly is to be made, but also at whether the design itself could be improved for manufacture.
Precise location through laser-cut parts
On more complex welded assemblies, the design of the individual parts can support later assembly: laser-cut profiles, tab-and-slot joints, lugs or defined locating points all help to align parts to one another repeatably before welding.
That reduces assembly effort and sources of error. With recurring small batches in particular, designing for welding in this way brings considerable benefits.
Welding with the appropriate process
We use the process that suits the material, geometry and requirements, in particular:
We choose the process not in isolation but according to the requirements of the assembly as a whole.
Surfaces and finishing
Welding often does not finish an assembly: depending on the application, welds may be dressed, functional faces machined or defined surfaces produced.
With stainless steel, corrosion resistance and any heat tint come into play as well. On visible parts the weld and the surrounding surface have to be considered together. We therefore take the intended final surface into account when planning the welding process.
Welded assemblies for demanding industries
stainlesstec makes assemblies above all for applications where standard production is not enough, among them:
Machinery and plant engineering
Frames, enclosures, vessels and customer-specific machine components.
Pharmaceuticals and hygiene-critical applications
Stainless steel assemblies with particular requirements for material, surface, processing and cleanability.
Aerospace and high technology
Precise components and small batches with high demands on weight, manufacturing quality and documentation.
Defence technology
Assemblies to defined material, processing and documentation specifications.
Which standards, tests and records are required is settled for each project.
From prototype to recurring small batch
New assemblies often start with a prototype or a first small run. That is when it becomes clear whether design, sequence and fixtures work as intended.
What is learned from that first run can then be used to make recurring small batches more economical and more repeatable. stainlesstec can accompany that path from the first part to ongoing production.
Maximum assembly dimensions and weights
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Maximum assembly dimensions
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Maximum assembly weight
We will add the specific figures in line with our production capability.
Let’s talk about your project.
Send us your drawing or CAD data by email – together with material, batch size and your requirements. We will come back to you with a sound assessment.
