What Is Hot Air Welding?

March 10, 2020

Industrial hot air welding technology uses precise heat, speed, and pressure to join thermoplastic industrial fabrics and films, while reaching temperature ranges from 700°F to 1,350°F. During the process, airtight and watertight seams are created to ensure a strong, permanent weld is created for all products.

As evident in the name, hot air welding uses hot air to melt thermoplastic materials and then bond them together, ensuring products hold an airtight and watertight seal, increasing the longevity of seams. As one of the most versatile welding technologies, there’s a variety of products and seams that industrial hot air creates.

But, how can you be sure industrial hot air welding technology is the right fit for your manufacturing process? To determine if your processes or products are in need of this type of technology, we overview the top benefits, specific applications and tips to vet equipment options.

Top Benefits of Hot Air Welding

Hot air welding technology improves consistency, quality and enhanced seam strength to lower production costs, increase production output and decrease welding time. Using the correct combination of heat, speed and pressure, you achieve a complete weld on an application.

Industrial hot air welding technology offers a variety of benefits that enhance the production and overall quality of your products, including:

  • Ability to weld multiple seam types at the same time using multiple heat systems. This enables manufacturers to weld together multiple layers to ensure stability, strength and longevity.
  • Option to start and stop throughout the welding process. Easily weld products with a variety of curves and turns with the ability to pause the process when needed to move around fabrics.
  • Opportunity to change weld width during the manufacturing process. Customize weld sizes to fit your product’s dimensions, fabric, etc.

What Are the Top Hot Air Welding Technology Applications?

Industrial hot air technology is used to weld double-wall or drop-stitch fabrics, and PVC-coated and polyurethane (PU)-coated fabrics. Many of these products are often large, with a variety of curves and turns, making the process complex and difficult to navigate. Hot air welding technology simplifies the process, ensuring seams are strong, airtight and watertight—all designed with longevity in mind.

If you manufacture one or more of the following products, hot air welding technology helps streamline your production process:

How to Determine Which Hot Air Technology Is Right for Processes, Product or Application

No two products or manufacturing processes are the same, which is why finding the right equipment is critical.

When selecting your industrial hot air welding technology, it’s important to understand which solution is the best fit for your specific needs. A few types of technologies to consider include:

  • Versatile Hot Air Welder. A versatile welding solution has the ability to use hot air and hot wedge welding technologies with an unlimited array of seam types.
  • Keder Welder. Built to weld keder as fast as possible through automation.
  • Flexible Hot Air Welder. A flexible hot air or hot wedge welding solution with an unlimited array of seam types and extended fabric handling support.
  • Hot Air Curve Welder. Designed to weld curves and unique shapes to produce inflatables, tanks, bladders and more.
  • Hot Air Weld Hand Tool. A high-powered hot air hand tool for increased membrane adhesion.
  • Hot Air Roofing Welder. Weld long, straight consistent seams utilizing the industry’s first innovation in membrane welding.

Industrial hot air welding technologies are customizable to support your manufacturing and product processes to ensure you are getting the most out of your hot air welders, at all times.

To properly vet your hot air welding options, ask yourself the following questions when determining which technology is right for you:

  • What types of thermoplastic materials am I looking to weld?
  • Could I benefit from an automated solution?
  • Do I need more than one type of welding technology?
  • Do my products have many curves, or are they in need of a long, straight seam?
  • How many different products do I need to weld? Do they have similar characteristics?

To determine if hot air welding technology is the best solution for your products, work with a partner that has ample years of experience, with the ability to dig deep into your biggest pain points and challenges.

Ready to Learn More About Industrial Hot Air Technology?

Interested in learning more about hot air welding solutions? Speak with a Miller Weldmaster expert for more information about the best heat system for your application.

Contact one of our experience representatives today.

Topics: Hot Air Welding

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