The ABICOR innovation prize 2000 was awarded to the engineer, Lars Kabnatik for the development of a plasma-reverse polarity welding torch.

Lars Kabatnik has been a member of the scientific staff at the Institute for Welding Technology Production Processing (ISF) at the RWTH in Aachen since 1996.

Due to the increasing significance of a light method of construction using aluminium throughout the entire industrial fabrication field, compatible jointing processes are required which combine the highest quality with economical feasibility.

Plasma welding with permanent reverse of polarity of the electrodes achieves an excellent weld quality due to the optimum cleansing potential of the arc and at the same time, the constant arc characteristics at high welding speed.

Kabatnik has introduced the prototype of a plasma reverse polarity welding torch with his prize-awarded development, which achieves welds within the high performance sector utilizing currents exceeding 200 A, at a sheet thickness of 2 mm to 8 mm.

The application spectrum for the use of aluminium and pertinent alloys can be extended by this innovation, as the torch system permits welding work, which could not be carried out until now using the conventional procedures.