• EFD Induction Limited

Brazing with Induction Heating

EFD Induction is Europe's largest supplier of induction solutions for industry (No.2 worldwide, but aspiring to be No.1). The company offers brazing in various important fields such as automotive, aviation, electrotechnical and white goods industries. It includes brazing of aluminium, brass, copper, copper alloys, iron and cast iron, steel and stainless steel. There are many reasons why using induction heating instead of gas for brazing is clearly beneficial. Induction transfers more energy per square meter than an open flame, resulting in faster heating cycles – put simply, more components can be produced per hour. The heat is also easy to check and adjust. One can reduce the risk of overheating, which can lead to higher porosity and weaker joints. What's more, it reduces the risk of cold brazing as induction generates the heat in the base material. Just as important, induction heating improves the working environment and safety – no gas needed, no open flame, no additional heating. The roots of EFD induction go back to the launch in 1950 of a universal induction hardening machine by the German company, Induktionserwärmung Fritz Düsseldorf GmbH (FDF). While FDF was expanding in the 1970s, an induction revolution was taking place in Norway, where engineers had figured out how to transistorise frequency converters for induction heating. In 1981 three of those engineers founded ELVA Induksjon a.s. In 1983 they unveiled the Minac range of mobile converters. Workpieces no longer had to be brought at great cost to a stationary induction heater – the heater could now go to the piece. In 1991 the managing directors of FDF and ELVA met by chance. They talked and speculated. FDF was strong in stationary induction hardening machines. ELVA was the agile innovator with a track record in finding new applications for induction heating. What if the two companies got together In January 1996 FDF and ELVA merged to create EFD Induction. And the rest, as they say, is history.