Successful BINZEL BestPartner Event 2021

What everyone has been waiting for: The first customer event after a forced break of one and a half years. More than 80 BestPartners were welcomed directly or in person over two theme days with numerous product highlights.

The number of registrations made it clear how keen the welding distributors were to participate in a specialist event at ABICOR BINZEL. And this not only because everything was organised in the best possible way, as always, at this first event after the forced break due to the corona pandemic. Each and every one of the BINZEL BestPartners wanted to see and experience what has happened at their top supplier in the meantime with regard to further development and product portfolio – and were welcomed with a lot of new information.

Excellent safety and hygiene concept

A safety and hygiene concept had to be set up for more than 100 participants, including the ABICOR BINZEL employees, which was implemented excellently. Among other things, specialist lectures were broadcast live in an additionally erected tent and individual training modules took place in small groups at the ITC and plant 4, both indoors and outdoors. In a fixed rotation procedure, everyone was able to see and experience each station and ask questions directly.

Focus: Safety and occupational health

The range of specialist lectures already made obvious where the welding technology is heading: safety and occupational health and safety. Ernst Miklos from LINDE GmbH raised awareness on this topic and presented new findings and preventive measures. The second day dealt with the relief of welders with the help of automation. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Reisgen from RWTH Aachen University showed how even small companies have a great chance in the tough competitive environment with the help of digitalisation and automation. The question of when cobots or welding robots are the right solution was explained by René Oelsch from OH-au2mate. Lukas Woycieszack and Lars Schade from Mercateo Unite showed how manufacturers and distributors can best sell digitally together.

News in the field of manual welding

The products of the individual training modules were for the most part also entirely dedicated to occupational health and safety at the workplace: From the xFUME® series, two new MIG/MAG welding fume extraction torches as well as a newly developed TIG extraction torch showed that fume extraction in the manual sector can also be lightweight and handy. In the important topic »Entry into automation in welding production«, the participants were given a first exclusive insight into the development of a real welding cobot, which offers the easiest operation and programming and relieves the welders by providing consistent weld seam quality. The welding tractors of the ABICAR series also provide relief for the musculoskeletal system and as prevention of forced positions when welding long components. The ABIBUG 300 offers the same especially for pipe welding. The EWR 2/EWR Net gas management system helps to reduce shielding gas costs and at the same time lowers CO2 emissions, which not only means economical welding but also actively protects the environment. The regulations for this are also becoming stricter and stricter.

The future of robot welding

The second customer day focused on automation. The CE-compliant welding cell system solution KUKA cell4_arc compact powered by ABICOR BINZEL offers everything for an easy entry into robot welding that is unsurpassed in terms of simplicity, precision and safety. Since in automation a cobot welding cell has to comply with all safety standards, test procedure and test result of such an in-house development were presented by means of CLEAN CELL TECHNOLOGY® through data monitoring. Further product presentations for robot welding were the iROB® 501 PRO robot power source, the laser welding technology with filler wire using a BO laser optic plus the MFS V3.1 master feeder system and the JOSY non-contact optical 3D weld seam inspection, all of which guarantee more quality assurance in automation.

A successful event in all respects

The feedback on both days was very positive. Not only because an event in this format could finally take place again, but also because there was at least one highlight for everyone's business that will be interesting in the future. The large number of new or innovatively developed products was a positive surprise for some participants. Certain products are even seen as future standards that will positively change the market. Innovative presentations, attractive novelties, many instructive experiences, good networking and a very good overall organisation with an unforgettable Grill 'n' Chill event on the outdoor area with live music are only a few points that reached us as feedback.

Showing products in the company, holding them in hands, asking questions ... at the end of these two days in glorious late summer weather, it once again became clear how important the direct exchange from person to person is. We are already looking forward to the in-house exhibitions, which will hopefully take place again soon – and to the next BestPartner event at ABICOR BINZEL.