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Laser Welding

German Auto Parts Supplier Cuts N₂ Costs by 71%

From €4,200/month bottled nitrogen → €1,220/month on-site PSA. Weld rejection rate dropped from 4.7% to 0.8%. Payback in 8 months.

Client Background

Industry: Automotive Parts Manufacturing

Location: Stuttgart, Germany

Operation: 8 fiber laser welding stations producing exhaust system components for European OEMs. 24/5 production, 300 working days/year.

Welding Materials: Stainless steel 304 & 316, titanium exhaust components.

The Challenge

€4,200/month spent on bottled nitrogen — the single largest consumable cost after electricity.

2–3 production stops per week due to bottle changeovers. Each stop cost ~15 minutes of production time across 8 stations.

4.7% weld rejection rate — purity inconsistency between bottle batches caused oxidation on stainless welds, requiring rework.

Logistics headache: 48 bottles/week delivery, storage space for 120 bottles, safety compliance for high-pressure cylinders.

Recommended Configuration

System: Standard Factory Nitrogen Station — 30 Nm³/h, 99.99% purity, 5.5 kW.

Integration: Connected directly to existing compressed air line (already had oil-free compressor). Buffer tank for consistent delivery pressure to all 8 stations.

Installation: 2 days — pre-assembled skid mount. No production downtime.

Training: 4-hour operator training. Remote monitoring set up for German engineering team.

Implementation Timeline

1

Site Survey

Remote video survey · 1 day

2

Production

Manufacturing · 5 weeks

3

Shipping

Sea freight to Hamburg · 4 weeks

4

Installation

On-site in 2 days · Zero downtime

Key Results

71%
Annual N₂ Cost Reduction (€50,400 → €14,640)
8 months
Payback Period
0.8%
Final Weld Rejection Rate (from 4.7%)
0
Production Stops Due to Gas Supply
2 days
Installation Time
€35,760
Annual Net Savings

System Details

Model: Standard Factory Station

Flow: 30 Nm³/h (adjustable 40–100%)

Purity: 99.99% ±0.1%

Power: 5.5 kW · 380V/50Hz

Buffer Tank: 3m³ · 0.8 MPa

Certification: CE · ISO 9001

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