| | Duplex stainless steel was introduced to the U.S. welding industry in the early '90s when metallurgists, some of the most knowledgeable people in the worldwide welding industry, presented the concept to the electric power industry in Columbus, Ohio, near the American Electric Power headquarters. A consortium comprising several companies collected the information for the presentation. L. Van Nassau, H. Meelker, and J. Hilkes from Norweld of the Netherlands performed extensive research relating to welding duplex materials. Dr. Damian Kotecki from Lincoln Electric and Dr. Trevor Gooch (now deceased), a private consultant from the United Kingdom, were the keynote speakers at the initial seminar. The primary focus was on welding the duplex material, but the development of usage areas for the material was equally well-depicted. The information was so well-presented to the fabricators, engineering firms, and individual consultants in attendance that it created an immediate response for usage in many industrial areas. Industries represented at the seminar included electric power companies, chemical producers, petroleum processors, welding engineers, transportation equipment manufacturers, and welding supply organizations. | |
