High-speed welding technology specialist K-TIG Limited (ASX: KTG) has achieved a key milestone, successfully demonstrating the weldability of HHA 550 Armoured Steel coupons provided by Bisalloy Steel.
In achieving this milestone K-TIG has demonstrated that K-TIG’s world leading keyhole welding technology can produce radiographically defect free welds on high strength armour.
The parameters developed have utilised K-TIG’s experience with welding commercial and specialist steels. The weldability of the HHA 550 Armoured Steel coupons has been independently certified by Bureau Veritas.
K-TIG Executive Director, Adrian Smith, said the achievement of this key milestone follows the signing of the MOU with Axiom Precision Manufacturing and Bisalloy Steels announced in June 2020 to jointly develop a sovereign capability for the Australian Defence Industry.
He said the development of an Australian sovereign capability in the welding of specialist defence steels will allow Australian Industry to maximise its participation in upcoming Defence procurements, such as the third-phase of the Land 400 project, which will see the ADF’s existing Australian Light Armoured Vehicle and M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier fleets replaced with new vehicles that deliver improved levels of firepower, protection and mobility.
According to K-TIG, in aggregate, the upcoming scheduled Australian defence procurements is expected to result in $1bn+ of spend in welding specialist defence steels.
Steels used in the fabrication of defence equipment have very specific metallurgical properties and unique mechanical characteristics. Maintaining the mechanical characteristics of the original steel during fabrication is critical and having demonstrated weldability, optimising the keyhole welding process to minimise any compromise in the mechanical properties of the base metal is the next stage in K-TIG’s development program.
To further support K-TIG’s expertise in the welding of armoured steels we are pleased to announce the recent appointment of Zhenyu Fei to the position of Manager Welding Research and Development. Zhenyu Fei is an acknowledged leader in the application of Keyhole welding in armoured steel, having researched the techniques for maintaining base metal mechanical properties. His PhD thesis, “In-depth welding procedure qualification of Keyhole Tungsten Inert Gas welded high hardness grade quenched and tempered steel and dissimilar stainless-steel joint” represents a seminal work in the field.
We are delighted to have achieved this key strategic and operational milestone and together with the appointment of Zhenyu Fei will add to the company’s armed steel and carbon steel capabilities,” Mr Smith said.
“We look forward to progressing with the development of Australian sovereign capability in the welding of specialist defence steels.”