Linde Gases has introduced a new gas-purging system it claims will improve welding productivity, notably for welding pipes or other products for which cleanliness and zero oxidation are important, including pharmaceutical products, food/beverage processing equipment, or nuclear energy.

The ARCLINE^® Cleanflow gas purging system allows welders to reduce purge time for pipes by up to 45 percent, according to the developer. Linde said its patent-pending system “produces a unique gas flow resulting in a near instantaneous removal of oxygen and allowing welding to commence almost immediately.”

The new system prevents oxidation, according to Linde, but it also prevents the staining that metal vapor sometimes cause to appear at the sides of a weld. The result is welds that appear clean, and thus require no post-welding cleaning, and are free from contaminants.

Also, the Cleanflow system’s special gas flow has a cooling effect that reduces post-weld waiting time and allows further processing of the pipes to start more quickly.

“Linde has always played a pioneering role in gas technology within the welding market” stated Linde’s global marketing manager for manufacturing, Lee Hermitage. “The development of the ARCLINE^® Cleanflow purging system is further verification of not only our continuing commitment to innovation, but to providing products and solutions which significantly improve our customers’ productivity and help their compliance to safety and quality requirements.”