JFE Steel’s Unique Welding Technology Adopted to Shipbuilding

JFE Steel announced on Tuesday the firm’s unique welding technology for steel plate, called J-STAR (JFE Spray Transfer Arc), and specialized welding wire for J-STAR were adopted to shipbuilding for the first time. IHI Marine United (IHIMU) adopted J-STAR and welding wire at Kure Shipyard in Hiroshima, Japan. IHIMU currently started to use the technology for welding tank’s bottom and deck of oil tanker. IHIMU plans to widen the technology utilization for container vessels and bulk carriers.

JFE Steel newly developed two types of welding wire specialized for J-STAR, KC-500 and KC-600, those which can adopt 550MPa and 590MPa steels compared with previous maximum 490MPa. The firm got approvals from major classification societies for KC-500 and KC-600. Higher strength welding wire matches with shipbuilders’ needs for larger size and higher strength vessel construction. JFE Steel developed KC-500 and KC-600 cooperatively with IHIMU’s Kure Shipyard and IHI Corporation.

J-STAR is JFE Steel’s only-one CO2 arc welding technology that can shorten welding time by 20-30% and downsize groove cross section by 20-30% compared with conventional welding technologies. J-STAR also reduces sputter generation by about 90% as well as halves fume and arc noise. The technology improves bead geometry and welding accuracy as well. With 490MPa steel, welding heat input can be doubled. Higher heat input improves welding efficiency.