Industrial feedback on Friction Stir Welding process: from R&D to mass production
By Landry Giraud (TRA-C Industrie), Aymeric De Monclin (TRA-C Industrie)

TRA-C industrie is one of the major player in FSW process in Europe since the last 10 years. As a FSW turn-key solution provider, R&D is acrucial part of the project. Through all the well-known advantages of FSW process, TRA-C industrie had the opportunity to integrate it on several applications in numerous industry fields, where the quality of the joints are critical.
In this presentation, TRA-C industrie will highlight various applications and joints configurations. Among the presented examples, dissimilar welding and homogenous welding of different aluminum alloys series (7XXX, 5XXX, casted aluminum) will be explained. Moreover, several industrial innovative welding configurations called “anvil less” and a new “double cone T-joint” used for the defense and aerospace industry will be detailed. Finally, a high mass production cell will be described in an automotive industry context.
Acknowledgement
TRA-C industrie acknowledges the French government defense agency, Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), for providing financial support of the RAPID-JOSEFA project.