Australia’s K-TIG and Hanwha Defense Australia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will see the two companies examine how K-TIG’s advanced welding processes can be applied to the construction of armoured vehicles by Hanwha in Australia and potentially overseas.
Traditional TIG welding of thick armour plates involves significant amounts of preparation and multiple passes of welding, each covering two to three millimetres in a single run. Careful cleaning of the weld is necessary before the next welding pass if a strong joint is to be created. The advanced welding processes utilised by K-TIG allows for at least seven millimetres to be covered in a single welding run, meaning fewer passes and much less preparation in between.
The K-TIG process utilises a high energy density arc which results in modest heat transfer into the plates being joined. The benefits of that include less distortion of the steel plates and, crucially, a much lower chance of affecting the hardness of the armour by excessively heating it. There are also enormous gains in productivity and quality control. It is conservatively estimated that the K-TIG process will be 40 per cent faster than traditional welding methods, and much of the welding will eventually be automated leading to further efficiency. An electronic record of all welding parameters is automatically retained by the K-TIG system, meaning any unusual spikes can be audited for quality control purposes.
“We are excited to working with K-TIG to establish how their advanced welding process can be utilised in the local manufacture of armoured vehicles,” said Richard Cho, managing director of Hanwha Defense Australia. “The potential for gains in quality and efficiency are significant. I am optimistic that we can utilise the K-TIG technology and help them further expand its applications to armoured vehicle production within the broader Hanwha group.”
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