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The story of ESAB is the story of welding

Welder welding
Year
1 9 0 4
Year
1 9 0 4

Welding invented

Swedish engineer Oscar Kjellberg develops the worlds first coated welding electrode and founds Elektriska Svetsnings-Aktiebolaget (ESAB).

Portrait of Oscar Kjellberg
Historical welding helmet, gloves, and electrode
Black-and-white photo from the ESAB factory in 1921
Portrait of Oscar Kjellberg
Year
1 9 1 3
Year
1 9 1 3

First Regulator Invented

Victor® brand founder, l. W. Stettner, develops the first piston regulator after losing his eye in a gas equipment accident, setting a new standard for safety.

Victor® brand founder L. W. Stettner
Blueprint of a piston regulator
The first piston regulator developed by Victor in 1913.
Victor® brand founder L. W. Stettner
Year
1 9 2 2
Year
1 9 2 2

Hardfacing Solutions Introduced

The Stoody brothers create the category of hardfacing welding products in Whittier, CA.

The Stoody brothers
Historical sign reading “Stoody Company, Manufacturers of Hard-Facing Alloys” and “Whittier, California”
Year
1 9 3 6
Year
1 9 3 6

Ground Clamp Improved

Ray Townsend forms the Townsend Welding Equipment Company (Tweco®), introducing the now-synonymous "redhead" ground clamp as its first product.

“Redhead” ground clamp
Year
1 9 3 7
Year
1 9 3 7

SAW Invented

The submerged arc welding (SAW) method is invented, providing a versatile means of depositing large amounts of metal quickly, consistently, and safely.

Vintage submerged arc welding (SAW) equipment
Historical photo of a man welding
Vintage submerged arc welding (SAW) equipment
Year
1 9 4 4
Year
1 9 4 4

TIG (Heliarc) Invented

A new process of TIG welding (called Heliarc) is introduced, giving welders greater control over the weld for stronger, higher-quality results.

Russell Meredith’s Heliarc welding torch patent illustration
Early ESAB Heliarc welding power source on a wheeled carriage
Year
1 9 4 9
Year
1 9 4 9

CAC-A Process Invented

Myron Stepath invents the CAC-A cutting and gouging process, founding Arcair® and introducing the G-3 cutting and gouging torch.

Patent illustration of the CAC-A cutting and gouging process
G-3 cutting and gouging torch introduced in 1949
Patent illustration of the CAC-A cutting and gouging process
Year
1 9 5 0
Year
1 9 5 0

GMAW Invented

To this day, the versatility and speed of gas metal arc welding (GMAW) makes it the most commonly used industrial welding process.

Historical image of a welder performing gas metal arc welding (GMAW)
Year
1 9 5 5
Year
1 9 5 5

PLASMA CUTTING INVENTED

The Linde division of Union Carbide invents the plasma arc for cutting metals. Linde later became L-tec, which was eventually acquired by ESAB.

Historical image of plasma arc cutting
Historical image of plasma arc cutting
Historical image of plasma arc cutting
Year
1 9 7 0
Year
1 9 7 0

First Pak Introduced

Thermal Dynamics® introduces their pak unit-power supply, Pak 40, the first to combine the cooling system and the console into one unit.

Welder standing beside the Thermal Dynamics PAK 40 power supply in 1970
Welder standing beside the Thermal Dynamics PAK 40 power supply in 1970
Year
1 9 7 2
Year
1 9 7 2

Underwater Torch Invented

Arcair, an ESAB company, develops and introduces the first underwater cutting and welding torch for the us navy.

Diver using an Arcair underwater cutting and welding torch
Year
1 9 8 0
Year
1 9 8 0

Exothermic Cutting Invented

The SLICE® torch is introduced, setting a new standard for portable and quick cutting solutions for fire and rescue operations.

Firefighter cutting through a metal door with a SLICE exothermic cutting torch during a fire and rescue operation
Arcair cutting systems and accessories
Firefighter cutting through a metal door with a SLICE exothermic cutting torch during a fire and rescue operation
Year
1 9 8 4
Year
1 9 8 4

Small Diameter Gas Shielded Wire Invented

Alloy rods, acquired by ESAB, develops a .035" diameter gas-shielded cored wire for use on jobs previously restricted to solid wires or stick electrodes

Gas-shielded cored wire
Gas-shielded cored wire
Year
1 9 9 0
Year
1 9 9 0

Parts Life Improved

Thermal Dynamics introduces hafnium inserts, allowing for longer-lasting oxygen and air-cutting solutions.

iSeries plasma cutting torch positioned above a metal plate
Year
1 9 9 5
Year
1 9 9 5

OXY-FUEL TORCH SAFETY IMPROVED

Victor develops and integrates patented built-in flashback arrestors into their torches for added operator safety.

Welder in a workshop using a Victor oxy-fuel torch
Welder in a workshop using a Victor oxy-fuel torch
Year
2 0 0 3
Year
2 0 0 3

1Torch Introduced

Thermal Dynamics' dual-mode torch (1Torch) is developed, allowing it to be used on all portable air-cutting systems (contact start or high-voltage start).

Welder wearing PPE and holding a Thermal Dynamics 1Torch
Welder in PPE using a Thermal Dynamics 1Torch for welding
Welder wearing PPE and holding a Thermal Dynamics 1Torch
Year
2 0 0 9
Year
2 0 0 9

EDGE 1.0 Introduced

Victor introduces the first generation of EDGE regulators, featuring the enhanced safety attributes of slam™ technology and an internal particle trap.

Using Victor EDGE regulator and gas
Victor EDGE regulators
Year
2 0 1 0
Year
2 0 1 0

High Speed SAW Invented

ESAB develops and introduces high-speed submerged arc welding (SAW) with ICE™, allowing for up to 50% higher deposition rates and significant productivity increases.

Submerged arc welding (SAW) with ICE™ on a metal workpiece
Submerged arc welding (SAW) with ICE™ on a metal workpiece
Year
2 0 1 5
Year
2 0 1 5

Rebel Introduced

ESAB develops Rebel, a revolutionary multi-process weld system providing industrial-quality arc performance in a compact design.

Welder with ESAB Rebel multi-process welder and farm machinery in the background
Rebel
Welder with ESAB Rebel multi-process welder and farm machinery in the background
Year
2 0 1 7
Year
2 0 1 7

EDGE 2.0 Introduced

Victor releases improved EDGE 2.0 regulators, building on the innovations of the original EDGE 1.0 to become the safest regulators in the world.

Welder in action with EDGE 2.0 regulators on gas cylinders in the background
EDGE 2.0 regulators on gas cylinders
Year
2 0 1 8
Year
2 0 1 8

Rebel 205 Introduced

ESAB develops the world’s first truly all-process portable welding machine with MIG, flux cored, Stick, DC TIG, and AC TIG capabilities.

Welder welding with a Rebel 205 in the foreground
ESAB Rebel 205 multiprocess welder display. Introduced 2018.
Welder welding with a Rebel 205 in the foreground
Year
2 0 1 8
Year
2 0 1 8

Digital Solutions Introduced

ESAB launches its first digital applications designed to leverage data from users, assets and processes to improve business outcomes.

Futuristic welder creating glowing binary code and light beams
ESAB’s first digital application, WeldCloud, displaying welding data.
Year
2 0 2 0
Year
2 0 2 0

ESAB Overcomes

When the world stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry kept moving forward. ESAB adjusted to the unprecedented times and continued to supply fabricators with innovative solutions while protecting the health and safety of employees.

3D illustration of a coronavirus
Sign with the text “COVID-19 QUARANTINE”
3D illustration of coronaviruses against a black background
3D illustration of a coronavirus
Year
2 0 2 1
Year
2 0 2 1

NETFLIX SERIES

ESAB made its Netflix debut in the reality competition series “Metal Shop Masters” as the sole provider of welding equipment.

Advertisement for the Netflix series “Metal Shop Masters”
Year
2 0 2 2
Year
2 0 2 2

ESAB CORPORATION

In 2022 the ESAB Corporation opened its new headquarters in North Bethesda, MD, a collaborative environment as innovative and technology-forward as our products and solutions. Our new space includes nods to our global footprint and the different industries ESAB Corporation serves.

Architectural rendering of ESAB Corporation’s new headquarters
Architectural rendering of ESAB Corporation’s new headquarters
Year
2 0 2 4
Year
2 0 2 4

ESAB celebrates 120 years

Our innovations, products, and ways of working are as cutting-edge today as they were in 1904. As we celebrate ESAB’s rich legacy of industry leadership this year, we do so with the next 120 years in mind. Let’s continue to approach the extraordinary together!

Black-and-white photo of ESAB IV, the world’s oldest all-welded ship, with text celebrating ESAB’s 120th anniversary.
Black-and-white photo of ESAB IV, the world’s oldest all-welded ship, with text celebrating ESAB’s 120th anniversary.