Eco-design regulation comes into force in January 2024: Welding equipment will also be affected

The Eco Design Directive, which was initiated by the European Union to make almost all products in the markets of the countries in the region environmentally friendly and circular, has come to an end. On 5 December, an interim agreement on the Ecological Design Regulation for Sustainable Products (ESPR) was reached between the European Parliament and the European Council.

The new law, which will be built on the existing Ecological Design Directive, will be based on eco-design, which envisages the design of products taking into account their environmental impacts throughout their entire life cycle. The law will impose new obligations on products that must be met in areas such as durability, efficiency, ease of repair and upgrade, and easy recycling.

New rules for the efficiency of welding machines

Stating that the new law will also cover industrial welding machines used for metals, Magmaweld KM Technical Marketing Leader Eralp reminded that the law adopted by the Commission decision numbered 2019/1784 was planned to be implemented as of 2023, but was postponed due to pandemic-related reasons and said: “It will come into force as of January 1, 2024.” The new regulation will change many habits in the welding machines market. The law imposes limits and rules on the efficiency of welding machines and the power they will consume when operating idle. Although the welding equipment market has witnessed developments in recent years, the market is dominated by transformer technology, which includes rectifiers and gradual gas welding machines. “The machines cannot meet the requirements of the eco-design regulation with their current designs. Even if the existing machines are redesigned with these principles, their transformers need to grow more than 2 times. Adapting these already bulky machines as they are will both increase costs and cause more useless equipment,” he said.

Provides 30% energy efficiency

Stating that transformer machines will be replaced by inverter technology machines following the eco-design law, Magmaweld KM Technical Marketing Leader Eralp Eroğlu said, “Inverter technology allows the production of energy-efficient products in welding machines. Products with this technology stand out with energy savings of up to 30%. Welding machines with inverter technology, which have a much lighter and more compact design and offer a structure that can be developed and updated on-site, also improve occupational safety with less spattering welding. These machines also come with ready-made programs according to application needs, which can be customized according to user demand. “Inverter technology, which offers advanced arc technologies and many other advantages, will start a brand new era in the welding industry,” he said.

Renewed its welding machine portfolio according to eco design

Emphasizing that Magmaweld, which was founded in 1957 and produced Turkey’s first welding electrode in 1959, has been among the decision makers of all these developments since the beginning as a member of the European Welding Association (EWA), Eralp Eroğlu concluded his words as follows: “9 companies in 6 countries As Magmaweld, which sells to more than 80 countries with its more than 900 employees, we have reorganized our product portfolio within the scope of the eco-design law. To respond to all requirements and user needs, we have launched three new inverter MIG models. The ECO series, which will replace the gradual gas welding machines that will be discontinued in Turkey with the entry into force of the regulation, includes the synergistic SMART and EXPERT series, which include Pulse, Double Pulse, and are fully digital, with large LCD touch screens, advanced arc technologies and built-in magNET (data collection and reporting). The ADVANCED series, which has many features, was put into service of the Turkish industry. “With our mission of being ‘the source of trust for welders’ and our new products, we will enable businesses in Turkey to work with welding equipment at global standards and contribute to our country’s exports.”