American Friction Welding expands capacity with new 50-ton friction welding center

American Friction Welding has installed a new Thompson 50-ton rotary friction welding center at its facility in Waukesha, Wis., to expand capacity and provide manufacturing redundancy and scheduling flexibility. The center features enhanced technology with rate control and forge collapse capability to help ensure weld repeatability and maintain length tolerances.

The new equipment, the company’s 17th high-precision friction welding center, will primarily serve the automotive and electric vehicle market.

AFW provides bi-metallic friction welding of dissimilar metals and near-net-shape parts using direct-drive rotary friction welding.