The fabrication sector focuses on the needs of customers who cut, shape, join, coat or treat metals and materials. Typical customers include those in the automotive (component suppliers, assemblers, manufacturers, repair and maintenance providers), construction, general manufacturing, shipbuilding, and aerospace industries.
Within this sector there is a multitude of market segments, each with specific needs. Customer size varies, covering the entire spectrum; from the domestic user who wishes to undertake DIY, to large multinational companies involved in global projects.
BOC Gases offers a comprehensive range of products, packages and services. These offers are tailored according to the requirements of the customers in a given geography, with notable differences evident between customers in the developed and emerging economies.
Traditional gases for fuel gas welding, cutting, shaping, joining and coating of metals and materials - oxygen, acetylene, propane and propylene are now offered alongside sophisticated shielding gas mixtures for arc welding and cutting. These mixtures are based on argon, carbon dioxide, helium, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen. Such gas products are complemented by an extensive range of process equipment and added value services to form a product range designed to meet the stringent requirements of today's customers.
The development of shielding gases, together with other R & D activities, is focused at the BOC Gases Fabrication Technology Centre located in south London. This is a modern state of the art research centre believed to be the most comprehensive facility of its kind in the world. As technologies have advanced, the centre’s research programmes have led the field in developing innovative shielding gas mixtures and related applications and services, as well as investigating health and safety aspects for cutting and welding. Fabricators worldwide have benefited from the centre’s activities which have provided cost saving and quality enhancing solutions for customers using the latest processes, materials and technologies.
The gases for this sector are predominantly supplied in cylinders, although large users are supplied with liquid product delivered direct by tanker. The channels of distribution differ by geography, and can include any combination of the following; direct delivery to the end user by either a BOC Gases vehicle or by a third party carrier, collection from a BOC Gases retail outlet (Gas and Gear Centre), collection from an agent, collection from a reseller, or collection or delivery from an independent distributor.
Distribution of welding equipment also plays an important part in this business with BOC Gases being the world’s largest distributor of welding products. With over 10 million cylinders and 3,000 outlets worldwide, BOC’s fabrication sector has indicative sales in excess of £1 billion per year to over one million customers.
For further information on BOC Fabrication Gases, for technical advice or safety literature, or to place an order, please call BOC Gases DirectLine 0800 111 333.
Editorial enquiries: Wendy Peters or Bob Pirie on +44 (0)1483 579857.
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