voestalpine Böhler Welding: Tradition meets digitalization

voestalpine Böhler Welding is a traditional company that has been setting standards in the welding industry for over 100 years. It convinces with a broad product portfolio. The company produces welding consumables, welding equipment and accessories. It is also a leader in the fields of joint welding, repair and build-up welding as well as hard and soft soldering. With more than 40 branches in 25 countries and over 1,000 sales partners, voestalpine Böhler Welding has a global presence. It supports its customers with innovative and customized solutions.

Digitalization also presents traditional industries with major challenges. On the one hand, the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies – such as networked systems, real-time data analysis and AI-supported processes – opens up great opportunities. It significantly optimizes production processes and quality assurance. On the other hand, this transformation requires high investments in IT infrastructures and continuous training of specialists. At the same time, there is an area of tension: companies have to master the balancing act between tried-and-tested processes and new digital solutions. Data protection and cybersecurity are among the biggest challenges. This is precisely where RISC Software GmbH has been providing support since 2018 with its expertise in the field of digital product development.

Long-standing support for the digital transformation

The focus of the collaboration has always been the realization of digital welding solutions in the industrial environment. The support of RISC Software GmbH in the digitalization of technological knowledge, the collection of large amounts of data, the linking with existing digital production systems and the expansion of the customer’s product portfolio is the prerequisite for voestalpine Böhler Welding now being able to fully implement the Industry 4.0 approach in welding technology.

With our contribution, we were able to help Böhler Welding launch the digital platform “weldNet®”, which modernizes and digitally maps central processes in welding technology. It combines various web-based applications that enable welding engineers, technologists and other specialists to work faster, more precisely and more efficiently. Two of the core components are the weldNet® Material Manager and the weldNet® Equipment Configurator – each with specific customer benefits and added value:

weldNet® Material Manager

The Material Manager is a web-based tool that provides access to an extensive, constantly updated database of materials and standards. With over 35,000 base materials – more than 24,000 of which contain chemical analyses – experts can find the right base material quickly and precisely. In addition, matching welding consumables and valid standards (e.g. DIN, EN, ISO, AWS) are displayed, making it much easier to create and update welding procedure specifications (WPS).

Customer benefits and added value:

• Efficiency & time savings: Thanks to intelligent search algorithms, the Material Manager delivers precise results in real time so that the right material selection can be made quickly.
• Reliability & quality: The continuously updated database ensures that all information – from chemical compositions to applicable standards – is up to date and reliable.
• Optimized decision making: By directly comparing material designs, properties and standard classifications, the tool supports informed decisions, resulting in improved welding quality.
• High flexibility & availability: As a cloud-based solution, the Material Manager can be accessed 24/7 and from any internet-enabled device (PC, tablet, smartphone) – ideal for anyone who works on the move.

weldNet® Equipment Configurator

With the Equipment Configurator, welding machines can be put together individually. The tool enables all components – from the power source to the welding torch, the cooling system, the wire feed and other accessories – to be precisely matched to the specific requirements and areas of application. The application supports the entire ordering process by suggesting optimal configurations and even providing saved settings for reuse.

Customer benefits and added value:

• Tailor-made solutions & individuality: The Configurator allows each welding machine to be configured precisely according to specific requirements and operating conditions, resulting in optimum machine performance.
• Easy handling & process optimization: Thanks to the intuitive user interface, configurations can be created, saved and retrieved quickly – this simplifies planning and speeds up the ordering process considerably.
• Transparency & safety: A clear overview of all components and their compatibility reduces misconfigurations and minimizes risks in the production chain.
• Flexibility & constant access: As an online application, the Equipment Configurator can be used at any time and from anywhere, which is particularly advantageous for time-critical projects.

Both applications increase efficiency, support well-founded decisions and make a significant contribution to higher quality and cost-effectiveness in welding practice.