Friction spot welding

Spot-on stability

In 1999 Christoph Schilling invented friction spot welding, a groundbreaking joining process. Finally it was possible to create point-shaped lap joints, without having to use additional material such as rivets. The joints made with this process are very strong and reproducible.

Friction spot welding can be seamlessly integrated in existing designs and production processes and is well on the way to becoming a key technology in vehicle production today. A decisive advantage of the process is its versatility: Sheet thicknesses between 0.2 and 11 millimetres can now be processed without problems; the spot weld has a diameter of between 5 and 11 millimetres. The joining speed of about one second per millimetre of weld depth is absolutely competitive, and the joint is immediately able to bear a load.

In addition, the mechanical process can be easily automated and monitored.Multiple-sheet joints can also be created with ease.

Compared to other mechanical joining processes, friction spot welded joints with the same diameter can absorb much greater forces.And, finally, the new technology is more efficient than traditional joining processes. Different material thicknesses can be joined without having to change tools. Thanks to this process, which is not hard on materials and ensures surfaces of high quality, minimal post-processing of a workpiece, at most, is needed. The reverse side of the joint remains unaffected.

Overall, the friction spot welding process is very economical due to its energy efficiency, reduced number of work steps and a low reject rate. And, as with friction stir welding, the ecological aspect is not neglected: There is no need to chemically pre-treat the materials to be joined; radiation, noise or pollutants are not emitted, and recycling poses no problems because of the absence of joining elements made of other types of material.