Atlas Mfg. recently opened its doors to advanced welding students from Chippewa Valley Technical College, giving the next generation of welders a firsthand look at one of the fastest-growing technologies in metal fabrication: handheld laser welding.
For many of the students, it was their first chance to operate a laser welder outside of a textbook or video. Gathered around a heavy-duty fixture table, the group took turns running beads on stainless and aluminum test coupons while wearing the specialized laser safety eyewear the process requires. With their instructor guiding them, the students compared how laser welding differs from the MIG and TIG processes they’ve been mastering in class, from travel speed and heat input to joint preparation and fit-up.
A New Tool for a Changing Industry
Laser welding is quickly gaining ground in manufacturing because it produces clean, precise welds with a narrow heat-affected zone, minimal distortion, and little post-weld cleanup. Thin materials that can be challenging with traditional processes are often easier to join with a laser, and production speeds can be significantly higher. For shops like Atlas Mfg., that means faster turnaround and consistent quality, and it also means a growing need for welders who understand how to set up, run, and inspect laser welds.
“It’s important for students to understand all the various tools out there,” said Pat Rufledt, Plant Manager at Atlas Mfg. “We want to educate them on what’s available in the industry so they can further their careers.”
Putting the Welds to the Test
The learning didn’t stop once the beam was turned off. Students will take the welds they produced during the visit back to CVTC’s lab for testing. There, they’ll evaluate their work using the same methods used to qualify welds in industry, examining penetration, fusion, and overall weld integrity. The results will let students see how their laser welds hold up and compare them to welds made with conventional processes.
This combination of hands-on production and lab testing reinforces a key lesson in the trade: a weld that looks good isn’t enough. It has to perform.
Building the Local Workforce
Partnerships like this one between Atlas Mfg. and Chippewa Valley Technical College strengthen the connection between classroom training and real-world manufacturing. Students gain experience with emerging technology and a better understanding of career opportunities close to home, while local employers help shape a skilled workforce ready to meet industry needs.
Rufledt noted that Atlas Mfg. has been a strong partner with CVTC and values the opportunity to support students as they prepare to enter the workforce. Atlas Mfg. thanks the CVTC advanced welding students and their instructor for visiting and looks forward to seeing the results of their weld testing.
