What is laser cladding?
Laser cladding is a cost-efficient and technically superior alternative to hard coatings such as nickel-chrome plating (NiCr) and HVOF spraying. Laser cladding is predominately being applied to piston rods, rollers, drums, mandrels, propeller shafts, tubes and bearings. New components are upfront provided with superior surface properties and damaged components are dimensionally restored while adding optimized protection.
The process of laser cladding
Laser cladding is a process that uses laser technology to fuse a powdered alloy with a substrate. The laser technology provides a highly focused low-energy heat source to create the melting pool.
Due to this focused energy input, the substrate is only exposed to a very limited amount of heat. Physical property changes are negligible and the substrate retains its original shape and dimension. The powdered alloy is metallurgically bonded with the substrate, creating a pore and crack-free coating with highly improved surface properties such as high corrosion and wear resistance.
✓ No failure due to (sub)corrosion, external impacts, bending or thermal shocks
✓ Excellent overhaul possibilities of heavily damaged or worn out components
✓ Easy on-site repairability
✓ Higher uptime of capital intensive equipment
✓ Longer lifetime of essential components
✓ Use of low-cost base material
✓ One-stop shop
✓ Prepared for a European ban on chromium-6
✓ No waste, no chemicals and a low energy consumption