How To Best Start A Post-Weld Heat Treatment Business
Posted on: 16 September 2020
If you are looking to start a business within industrial or industrial-related industries, then providing post-weld heat treatment services may be right for you. If you choose to provide these services, then you need to understand the two main types of post-weld heat treatment, understand the thermocouples, and know your projected client base.
Understand Post-Heating Versus Stress-Relieving
One of the most important parts of post-weld heat treatment services (PWHT) is that there is a difference between those for welds just completed and those that have been allowed to cool off. Services directly after the welds are completed fall under the post-heating category, while those after the weld has been completed are under the stress-relieving category. Both are intended to allow any hydrogen that had infiltrated the weld during the welding process to escape, preventing hydrogen-induced cracks. Stress-relieving heating is also meant to reduce other stresses. If you plan on offering the former along with the latter, then you will need to have your business available during extended work hours on a regular basis.
Thermocouples
Another important part of the entire PWHT process is the heat-monitoring, which ensures that the welds being treated are heated and cooled at the right temperatures and at the right time. This is done through thermocouples, which are electronic devices wrapped around the weld to track the temperatures at hand. They can be connected to a computer system that can then adjust the temperature of your company's heating apparatus. Without heat monitoring, you risk heating the welds too high or too low to safely allow the hydrogen or stress to be released, risking cracks and other damage.
Determine Your Customer Base
Different welders have different PWHT needs, beyond considerations for post-heating versus stress-relieving services. For example, welders working in industrial, manufacturing, or even nuclear industries will typically require PWHT for most of their welds. This means that you may have higher amounts of business than if you started a PWHT business in an area with less industrial welding. However, this increase in demand may cause more stress than you would otherwise prefer, as you will probably need more space, more employees, and overall more capital. You will want to determine if you want to take this sort of financial risk.
Post-weld heat treatment services are used to ensure the quality of welds in and outside of major industrial environments. Heat monitoring is generally done electronically, and without it, welds can crack and break. When starting a company, make sure you understand the risks and requirements associated with the industry you choose.
To learn more, contact a resource that offers post-weld heat treatment services.
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