The Japan International Welding Show 2000 opened at INTEX OSAKA on April 12 and ran through April 15. Perhaps reflecting the economic recession still dragging on in Asia, the Show did not attract a high turnout: 115 exhibitors in and out of Japan and 52,000 visitors during the four days. Both figures are lower than those attained at the last Show held in Tokyo in 1998.

The main theme of the Show this time was "The Advanced Welding and Joining Technology Opens the Door to the 21st Century - Let's Think of the Fundamentals of Production." Kobe Steel, in the role of a welding industry leader, took part in the Show with the slogan of "KOBELCO'S TECHNOLOGY SPARKLES IN THE 21st CENTURY." Highlights from the field of welding consumables included advanced flux-cored wires and solid wires for gas metal arc welding. These include the DW-BF Series (a group of flux-cored wires that facilitate lOmm-leg-length horizontal fillet welds in one pass welding), MG-55 and MX-55 (a solid wire and flux-cored wire offering good mechanical properties in welding with high heat input and interpass temperatures). These wires contribute to the improvement of welding efficiency and reduction of the total fabrication cost.

Top: Attractive technical presentation using visual aids and a welding robot on the main stage Bottom: Business talk and technical service corners

The DW-BF Series consists of four different brands (DW-50BF, DW-60BF, DW-50WBF, and DW- 60WBF) suitable for one-pass large-leg fillet welding of high strength steel and atmospheric corrosion resisting steel respectively, particularly in bridge construction.

MG-55 and MX-55 ensure the minimum tensile strength of 490N/mm2 in high efficient welding using high heat input of 40kJ/cm max and less pass-to-pass intervals with a maximum interpass temperature of 350°C .