20% of welders' time wasted by spatter removal

Survey results have found that, on average, welders waste 20% of their time spent welding, actually removing weld spatter in spite of using anti-spatter sprays - or not the right ones.

New survey results have found that, on average, welders waste 20% of their time spent welding, actually removing weld spatter.

This research carried out on behalf of Stevens Industrial Services (SIS), shows that, on an average day, one worker would have to allocate up to 1.5 hours to the removal of spatter, equating to one whole day wasted per person every working week.

Approximately 40% of welders questioned used anti-spatter sprays.

However, of these, almost 10% of the time spent welding was still devoted to spatter removal by using traditional methods such as chipping, sanding, grinding, or scraping.

This shows that, though most anti-spatter sprays quicken the process of weld spatter removal, they do not eliminate it.

"Obviously most anti-spatter sprays on the market are not effective enough," stated Graham Stevens, managing director of Stevens Industrial Services.

"Anti-spatter sprays should stop the need for spatter removal altogether and industry should not have to put up with products that don't get the job done.

''The results of our survey prove the UK is unknowingly wasting millions of pounds through downtime spent removing weld spatter,'' commented Stevens.

"In some cases, just as much time can be spent removing the spatter as to the actual welding itself.

This is crazy because the loss of productivity can easily be avoided if companies invested in effective spatter control measures.

Management need to wise up because although spatter is inevitable, it doesn't have to stick and welders' time can be better spent.

' Stevens Industrial Services produces The Works range of spatter control products, which are effective and safe for end users.

Unlike many comparable treatments these products are free of the health damaging and carcinogenic chemical, dichloromethane.

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