ESAB LAUNCHES MOBILE COLUMN-AND-BOOM SYSTEM FOR SAW

FABTECH exhibit showcases CaB 200 column and boom, the enhanced Aristo 1001 AC/DC power source, and new EAC 30 weld controller. 

North Bethesda, Md. – ESAB will introduce its new submerged arc welding (SAW) system at FABTECH 2026, October 21-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The system combines three new products: the compact and mobile CaB 200 column-and-boom system, the Aristo® 1001 AC/DC power source and the EAC 30 weld controller. Attendees can see the system in ESAB Booth #S29025 on Level 2 in the South Hall and learn how the Aristo 1001’s new Lift Wire Arc Start function eliminates the need to manually clip the end of the wire before the next arc start.

“ESAB created the CaB 200-based system to give fabricators working with smaller weldments a practical path to automate circumferential and longitudinal welds to improve deposition rates, consistency, and repeatability in pressure pipe, tanks and vessels and other heavy-fabrication applications,” says Shane Searels, Sr. Manager North America, ESAB Welding Automation.

Historically, fabricators working with smaller circumferential weldments used a positioner and the flux cored welding process, which has a maximum arc-on time of about 30%. The CaB 200 provides an economic option for fabricators to switch to submerged arc welding, which generally has an arc-on time exceeding 75%, delivers more productivity and better quality, and can use an operator rather than a highly skilled welder. 

“By bringing the CaB 200, Aristo 1001 and EAC 30 together, ESAB gives shops a compact, integrated solution that can increase productivity and quality with the workforce they have,” says Searles. “All of the components also work independently and integrate with ESAB’s portfolio of SAW systems, filler metals, fluxes and application expertise.”

Mobile CaB 200 Brings Automation to the Workpiece

The CaB 200 is a compact column-and-boom platform on a movable base. Rather than requiring the work to be brought to a fixed automation cell, the CaB 200 can be rolled into position at the workpiece and paired with a turning roll or positioner to weld round seams. At FABTECH, the system will be configured for single-wire SAW with an ESAB EWH Versoarc 1000 welding head; a twin-wire head is available as an option.

With a 2,000 x 1,000 mm (approximately 6.6 x 3.3 ft.) work envelope and a 100 kg (220 lb.) load capacity at the end of the boom, the CaB 200 is sized for pressure pipe, small-diameter tanks and vessels, and general fabrication. Its compact footprint, robust steel construction and modular configuration support both straightforward applications and future upgrades. Available motion choices include powered vertical movement and manual or powered horizontal positioning, while welding-head options include SAW and MIG.

“Many fabrication shops want the consistency and deposition-rate advantages of submerged arc welding, but they do not need a large, permanently installed column and boom,” Searels says. “The CaB 200 gives them a smaller, mobile platform they can move to the job, position over the seam and use to automate work that may otherwise be welded manually.”

Aristo 1001 Adds Lift Wire Arc Start and Improved Cooling

The 1,000-amp Aristo 1001 AC/DC power source delivers its full output at a 100% duty cycle. It is engineered for high-productivity automated processes that include SAW, gouging, electroslag welding, cladding and gas metal arc welding. Up to three power sources can be connected in parallel for applications requiring as much as 3,000 amps.

The Aristo 1001 builds on the capabilities of the Aristo 1000 with Lift Wire Arc Start. This technology improves restarting performance by retracting the wire to break the silicate ball that typically forms at its end, then feeds the wire forward and initiates the arc. It enables the operator to restart the welding system without first cutting the wire.

“Cutting the wire may be a minor inconvenience when the weld is at waist height, but it becomes cumbersome when the operator has to work from a lift on a wind tower, large tank or vessel,” Searels says. “Lift Wire Arc Start lets the operator restart from the control location, which can save time and help keep people on the ground instead of working at height.”

The power source also features engineered, PWM-controlled fan speed for increased airflow with less noise, lower power consumption and less maintenance. Cable Boost™ compensates for voltage losses typical with long welding cables, so the values set at the power source are delivered at the arc.

For root-to-cap productivity, operators can weld with DC for root-pass penetration, then change from DC to AC on the fly for higher deposition during fill and cap passes without extinguishing the arc. Adjustable AC frequency, balance and voltage offset give operators control over penetration profile and depth, dilution, arc stability and bead appearance. 

The power source is ready for connection to the InduSuite WeldCloud data-analytic applications for monitoring parameters (amperage, voltage, wire-feed speed and arc-on time) and data collection and analysis.

EAC 30 Consolidates Weld and Motion Control

The EAC 30 weld controller manages the welding power source, welding head, travel and positioning motions from a single interface. It combines the proven capabilities of ESAB’s PEK and RCC control solutions and incorporates a joystick control for manual slide positioning and automatic joint tracking. Instead of using separate controls for welding and motion functions, the operator can use one handheld controller, remove it from its holder and make adjustments while positioned near the weld.

“The EAC 30 is one controller for everything,” Searels says. “The operator can take it to the weld, adjust weld parameters and control the slides without walking back and forth to separate control boxes. That is especially valuable on large ESAB CaB and beam systems or other equipment where the welding heads are several feet apart.”    

The EAC 30 displays real-time heat input and provides closed-loop, encoder-based control of wire-feed and travel speeds. It stores as many as 255 parameter presets, logs data to a USB drive and offers optional WeldCloud™ connectivity through Ethernet. It is compatible with current ESAB SAW power sources, ESAB turning rolls and many third-party turning rolls and motion controllers through analog/digital I/O.

About ESAB 

For more than 120 years, ESAB has been a world leader in fabrication technology. Our distinctive portfolio of fabrication solutions encompasses more than 40 of the world’s most trusted brands across welding and cutting equipment, automation, robotics, fabrication software, filler metals, gas flow control, PPE, and inspection and monitoring. Industries and innovators that shape the world rely on ESAB’s products and solutions. To learn more, visit esab.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

ESAB Trade Media Contact:
Chuck Schroeder
Tel +1 (262) 618-4427
[email protected]

Corporate Media Contact:
Tilea Coleman
Tel +1 (301) 323-9092
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