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The story of ESAB is the story of welding

Welder welding
Year
1 9 0 4
Year
1 9 0 4

Welding invented

Swedish engineer Oscar Kjellberg develops the worlds first coated welding electrode and founds Elektriska Svetsnings-Aktiebolaget (ESAB).

1904
1904
1904
1904
Year
1 9 1 3
Year
1 9 1 3

First Regulator Invented

Victor® brand founder, l. W. Stettner, develops the first piston regulator after losing his eye in a gas equipment accident, setting a new standard for safety.

Year
1 9 2 2
Year
1 9 2 2

Hardfacing Solutions Introduced

The Stoody brothers create the category of hardfacing welding products in Whittier, CA.

Year
1 9 3 6
Year
1 9 3 6

Ground Clamp Improved

Ray Townsend forms the Townsend Welding Equipment Company (Tweco®), introducing the now-synonymous "redhead" ground clamp as its first product.

Year
1 9 3 7
Year
1 9 3 7

SAW Invented

The submerged arc welding (SAW) method is invented, providing a versatile means of depositing large amounts of metal quickly, consistently, and safely.

Year
1 9 4 4
Year
1 9 4 4

TIG (Heliarc) Invented

A new process of TIG welding (called Heliarc) is introduced, giving welders greater control over the weld for stronger, higher-quality results.

Year
1 9 4 9
Year
1 9 4 9

CAC-A Process Invented

Myron Stepath invents the CAC-A cutting and gouging process, founding Arcair® and introducing the G-3 cutting and gouging torch.

Year
1 9 5 0
Year
1 9 5 0

GMAW Invented

To this day, the versatility and speed of gas metal arc welding (GMAW) makes it the most commonly used industrial welding process.

Year
1 9 5 5
Year
1 9 5 5

PLASMA CUTTING INVENTED

The Linde division of Union Carbide invents the plasma arc for cutting metals. Linde later became L-tec, which was eventually acquired by ESAB.

Year
1 9 7 0
Year
1 9 7 0

First Pak Introduced

Thermal Dynamics® introduces their pak unit-power supply, Pak 40, the first to combine the cooling system and the console into one unit.

Year
1 9 7 2
Year
1 9 7 2

Underwater Torch Invented

Arcair, an ESAB company, develops and introduces the first underwater cutting and welding torch for the US Navy.

Year
1 9 8 0
Year
1 9 8 0

Exothermic Cutting Invented

The SLICE® torch is introduced, setting a new standard for portable and quick cutting solutions for fire and rescue operations.

Year
1 9 8 4
Year
1 9 8 4

Small Diameter Gas Shielded Wire Invented

Alloy rods, acquired by ESAB, develops a .035" diameter gas-shielded cored wire for use on jobs previously restricted to solid wires or stick electrodes

Year
1 9 9 0
Year
1 9 9 0

Parts Life Improved

Thermal Dynamics introduces hafnium inserts, allowing for longer-lasting oxygen and air-cutting solutions.

Year
1 9 9 5
Year
1 9 9 5

OXY-FUEL TORCH SAFETY IMPROVED

Victor develops and integrates patented built-in flashback arrestors into their torches for added operator safety.

Year
2 0 0 3
Year
2 0 0 3

1Torch Introduced

Thermal Dynamics' dual-mode torch (1Torch) is developed, allowing it to be used on all portable air-cutting systems (contact start or high-voltage start).

Year
2 0 0 9
Year
2 0 0 9

EDGE 1.0 Introduced

Victor introduces the first generation of EDGE regulators, featuring the enhanced safety attributes of slam™ technology and an internal particle trap.

Year
2 0 1 0
Year
2 0 1 0

High Speed SAW Invented

ESAB develops and introduces high-speed submerged arc welding (SAW) with ICE™, allowing for up to 50% higher deposition rates and significant productivity increases.

Year
2 0 1 5
Year
2 0 1 5

Rebel Introduced

ESAB develops Rebel, a revolutionary multi-process weld system providing industrial-quality arc performance in a compact design.

Year
2 0 1 7
Year
2 0 1 7

EDGE 2.0 Introduced

Victor releases improved EDGE 2.0 regulators, building on the innovations of the original EDGE 1.0 to become the safest regulators in the world.

Year
2 0 1 8
Year
2 0 1 8

Rebel 205 Introduced

ESAB develops the world’s first truly all-process portable welding machine with MIG, flux cored, Stick, DC TIG, and AC TIG capabilities.

Year
2 0 1 8
Year
2 0 1 8

Digital Solutions Introduced

ESAB launches its first digital applications designed to leverage data from users, assets and processes to improve business outcomes.

Year
2 0 2 0
Year
2 0 2 0

ESAB Overcomes

When the world stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry kept moving forward. ESAB adjusted to the unprecedented times and continued to supply fabricators with innovative solutions while protecting the health and safety of employees.

Year
2 0 2 1
Year
2 0 2 1

NETFLIX SERIES

ESAB made its Netflix debut in the reality competition series “Metal Shop Masters” as the sole provider of welding equipment.

Metal Shop Masters
Year
2 0 2 2
Year
2 0 2 2

ESAB CORPORATION

In 2022 the ESAB Corporation opened its new headquarters in North Bethesda, MD, a collaborative environment as innovative and technology-forward as our products and solutions. Our new space includes nods to our global footprint and the different industries ESAB Corporation serves.

ESAB Corporation
ESAB Corporation
Year
2 0 2 4
Year
2 0 2 4

ESAB Celebrates 120 Years

Our innovations, products, and ways of working are as cutting-edge today as they were in 1904. As we celebrate ESAB’s rich legacy of industry leadership this year, we do so with the next 120 years in mind.  Let’s continue to approach the extraordinary together!

ESAB celebrates 120 years
ESAB celebrates 120 years