Solvator Award 2023

A total of 7 prizes in 3 different categories were awarded for projects in which customers have implemented innovative welding solutions in close cooperation with the application experts from voestalpine Böhler Welding.

Once again, it was shown that voestalpine Böhler Welding has the most experienced team of application engineers for customer support in the welding industry. Close cooperation with customers, which enables solutions of a special kind, is the DNA of the company. So it is only natural to honour the most impressive results of this cooperation with its own award, the 'Solvator'.

When asked by the moderator what impression CEO Stefan Glanz had of the projects submitted and what impressed him about them, he replied:

In the past, our awards focussed mainly on filler metals. This year it is nice to see that many of the projects reflect the success of combining equipment, filler metals and process know how with our technical application support.

CTO Martin Peruzzi, asked about the challenges of the future, emphasised:

Resource-efficient welding solutions, e.g. for lightweight constructions, require reliable welding solutions that meet stricter technical specifications, along with recyclable packaging materials. In addition, welder health and safety are becoming increasingly important, so we are developing filler metals and solutions with lower fume emissions and fewer hazardous elements.

Innovation and Customer Benefit. Winners in each category were selected from many interesting entries from around the world based on comprehensive criteria such as level of challenge, difficulty, innovation and customer benefit.

Gold Winner:

• David Montgilbert – voestalpine Böhler Welding France: Robotic cell for hardfacing and wire-arc additive manufacturing

Silver Winner:

• Padiyachi Ankit– voestalpine Böhler Welding India: High productivity pipeline orbital welding with pipeRunner

Bronze Winner:

• Pietro Il Grande – voestalpine Böhler Welding Italy: High productivity full welding solution for crane & lifting application

Gold Winner:

• Issam Chiguer (Caroline Jonckheere) – voestalpine Böhler Welding Belgium: ESW single flux / NuScale nuclear project

Silver Winner:

• Liwei Zhao – voestalpine Böhler Welding China: New product development for RPV in HTGR

Bronze Winner:

• Samuel Martins – voestalpine Böhler Welding Brazil: BACALHAU FIELD – Subsea O&G pipelines

Gold Winner of Special Award:

• Prafull Kaldhone – voestalpine Böhler Welding India: L&T MFF Welder Skill enhancement program; Customer L&T MFF, Project “BACALHAU FIELD – Subsea O&G pipelines”

This is a special award that helps to improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of the client. These are outstanding activities that don't fit into the other two categories, but deserve special recognition.

The Solvator 2023 jury team consisted of Stefan Glanz, Thomas Platzer, Martin Peruzzi, Nazmi Adams, Thomas Hold, Ronald Schnitzer of Montanuniversität Leoben and Dr. Prof. Christof Sommitsch of TU Graz.