The American Welding Society’s Welding Journal has published work done by the Navy Metalworking Center (NMC) to reduce a specific environmental hazard to welders. Members of the welding industry encouraged writing the article to demonstrate that electrode manufacturers are proactive in seeking to reduce the level of manganese fume exposure to the welder. The NMC project objective was to develop a low-fuming, flux-cored welding electrode composition and weld procedures that reduced potential worker exposure to manganese emissions. while maintaining required weld properties.
Paul Konkol, principal welding engineer at Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), which operates NMC, co-authored the article in the November issue of the Welding Journal. Mr. Konkol wrote the article with three of his colleagues in the welding industry: Mark Mruczek, a CTC employee at time of project execution, now with FMC Technologies, Inc., along with Stan Ferree and Mike Sierdzinski of ESAB Welding and Cutting Products