Storage tank fabrication depends on consistent welds, suitable equipment and careful coordination of work on large structures. Automatic girth welders can help mechanize the horizontal circumferential seams between tank shell courses, improving repeatability on suitable projects.
What Is Girth Welding?
A girth weld runs around the circumference of a cylindrical structure. In tank construction, an automatic girth welder travels around the shell and carries the welding equipment along the joint. The machine, welding process and setup must be selected for the tank geometry and fabrication procedure.
Red-D-Arc’s AGW-I and AGW-II automatic girth welders use submerged arc welding. Continuously fed electrode wire forms the weld beneath a blanket of granular flux. A flux-support and recovery arrangement helps retain and recycle suitable unused flux at the joint.
The AGW-I and AGW-II provide single- and double-sided configurations. Equipment selection must account for the tank diameter, shell course height, plate thickness, joint design and access. Confirm the exact machine’s operating range with Red-D-Arc before planning the work.
Where Productivity Gains Can Come From
Mechanized travel and wire feeding can help maintain a steady welding process along long seams. On an appropriate application, this can increase productive welding time and reduce variation in torch movement. Results depend on the procedure, fit-up, setup time and the work that supports the machine.
Include joint preparation, flux handling, inspection and repositioning when comparing productivity. There is no single percentage reduction in welding time that applies to every tank. Good planning helps prevent the welding machine from waiting on upstream work.
Keep Quality Controls in Place
The operator must set and monitor the welding parameters, maintain the equipment and respond to changes in the joint. Automated travel does not remove the need for qualified procedures, appropriate consumables or inspection. Verify weld quality against the project’s specified acceptance criteria.
Maintain fit-up, alignment and flux condition throughout the job. Consistent inputs are necessary for consistent output; a machine can repeat unsuitable settings as readily as suitable ones.
Plan Safe Access and Operation
An automatic girth welder can change how an operator reaches and performs the work, but work at height, moving equipment and welding hazards remain. Assess access, platform loading, fall protection, electrical connections and emergency arrangements for the actual installation.
Some girth welders carry the operator on the machine. That arrangement does not eliminate fall hazards or confined-space requirements where they apply. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the site’s safety procedures throughout installation, operation and removal.
Choose a Girth Welder with Red-D-Arc
Red-D-Arc offers girth-welding equipment options, including the lightweight AGW-LW. Discuss the tank dimensions, material, joint design, welding procedure and planned sequence with our team to identify a suitable configuration.
Planning the equipment package early helps align delivery, power, consumables and operator preparation with the construction schedule. Explore Red-D-Arc welding equipment to start that discussion.
