Market Development Trends for Laser Welding Machines

Laser cladding technology is currently being applied in automotive manufacturing abroad. According to surveys, by 2000, there were over 100 laser cladding production lines for cut blanks worldwide, with an annual output of 70 million automotive component clad blanks, continuing to grow at a high rate. Some cut blank structures are also adopted in Chinese-manufactured imported vehicle models. Japan has replaced flash butt welding with CO₂ laser welding for connecting steel coils in the steel industry. Research on welding ultra-thin sheets—such as foils thinner than 100 micrometers—which cannot be fusion welded, has achieved success using YAG laser welding with specially designed power waveforms, demonstrating the broad prospects for laser welding. Japan also achieved the world's first successful application of YAG laser welding for repairing steam generator tubes in nuclear reactors. Additionally, domestic research is underway on gear laser welding technology.

With the increasing maturity of intelligent technology, digital welding machines and intelligent control systems for office-based ground connection technology have steadily entered the market. Large-scale infrastructure projects like the Three Gorges Dam, West-East Gas Pipeline, aerospace initiatives, and shipbuilding have significantly driven the advancement of welding technology, particularly automated welding techniques. The automotive industry and its component manufacturing demand rapidly increasing levels of welding automation. China's welding industry is progressively moving toward “high efficiency, automation, and intelligence.” China's welding automation rate remains below 30%, significantly lower than the 80% achieved in developed industrial nations. Since the late 20th century, the gradual promotion of automated welding methods—specifically gas shielded welding—across various industries to replace traditional manual arc welding has yielded notable results. It is anticipated that China's automated welding technology will develop at an accelerated pace in the future.

Finally, laser welding equipment is currently in a developmental phase and holds paramount importance for industries such as manufacturing, powder metallurgy, and automotive. With the gradual recovery of the global economy and China's sustained rapid economic growth, demand for laser welding equipment will steadily increase. Manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors of laser welding equipment should seize this favorable opportunity to deepen their penetration of existing markets while actively expanding into broader potential markets.