Laser welding is said to represent the most significant advancement in welding technology in nearly 80 years, asserts local and international supplier of nitrogen for tyre inflation and on-site nitrogen generation, Nitralife.

The company notes that laser welding is increasingly replacing traditional tungsten inert gas, or TIG, welding in fabrication and that the ability to use nitrogen as a shielding gas, rather than more expensive, cylinder-supplied argon, has transformed how the fabrication and manufacturing sectors approach cost, safety and scalability.

Nitralife’s locally manufactured, on-site Nitraweld nitrogen generators now enable fabricators to produce their own high-purity shielding gas independently.

“For the first time, customers can generate their own shielding gas for laser welding on site, eliminating delays, reducing hazards and reducing costs dramatically,” says Nitralife MD Tom Sowry.

The nitrogen generator is engineered specifically for laser welding. The compact, modular unit is powered by the customer's own compressed air, and is available in standard models to support one, two or three welding points. Larger systems can be customised for higher throughput and integrated with existing welding lines, with the use of built-in storage vessels and user-friendly ball-and-tube flow meters.

“The market has responded very enthusiastically, with fabricators reporting significantly fewer production interruptions, reduced handling and safety risks, and lower long-term operating costs,” says Sowry, adding that “… laser welding typically consumes up to 25 ℓ of nitrogen or argon per minute per welder - so a traditional supply via cylinders for multiple welders would quickly become a bottleneck. Nitralife’s solution removes that barrier completely - offering consistent, uninterrupted gas flow 24/7.”

The company is also collaborating with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) laser welding machine suppliers to offer bespoke, co-branded nitrogen generators that integrate into customer offerings.

The design includes a ball and tube flow meter designed to give welders precise control over gas flow, ensuring clean, consistent welds without over-consumption. The units are compact and require only compressed air, making them suitable for production floors, mobile setups, and OEM integrations.

In addition, each unit can be tailored to meet specific pressure, purity and throughput needs and, as they are manufactured locally, even bespoke versions can be promptly delivered.