Significant Structures That Required Stud Welding in Their Construction

In the 85 years since the invention of stud welding, the stud welding trade has grown as the country has grown. Prior to stud welding, a welded joint was crafted by drilling through two metal plates and connecting them together with rivets. That practice created overlapping edges, which were bulky, only as strong as the rivet, and in the case of shipbuilding, weighted down the project. Initially used to provide a fastening system connecting wood planks to steel plates, in 1930, the U.S. Navy Shipyard developed stud welding to attach threaded bolts to one side of the metal plate. They could then attach other materials - wood planks - to that plate without marring or perforating the metal surface. Welding studs to a single side of a base piece of metal created the opportunity to join any metal to another material quickly, easily and affordably, and the practice was quickly adopted as a fundamental building process throughout America's construction industries.

Today's industrial building projects are constructed with a unique concrete/metal composite design that integrates the strength of steel plates and studs with the durability of concrete. In foundations, steel plates covered in welded studs anchor concrete slabs, making them immovable and stable. For roofs, ceilings and floors, metal and steel beams studded with thousands of welded studs create the durability necessary to span long distances without sway or sag. Connectors embedded in concrete slabs attach to the studs, creating an indelible, unbreakable bond between two disparate building materials.

Since 1976, Image Industries has been leading the welding industry with innovations in stud welding technology, including being the first American welding manufacturer to use digital stud welding equipment. Image Industries was a proud contributor in the construction of each of these three, iconic American complexes:

Daytona International Speedway This iconic facility is one of the largest outdoor stadiums in the United States, and every one of its 165,000 seats was built and installed with stud welds. Additionally, stud welding applications are found throughout the construction of the tri-oval track and its 31 degree banked turns, the 164-stall garage, and the various outbuildings that are used for social, sporting and athletic events year-round.

Atlanta International Airport This aviation wonder is home to the largest passenger terminal complex in the world, encompassing as much square footage as 11 Astrodome playing fields. Throughout the facility, you will find evidence of stud welding in all its aspects, from the electrical system that includes more than 53,000 light bulbs to the trash bins that collect more that 57 tons of garbage every day. These systems and their components are made more durable with stud welds.

One World Trade Center Unlike any other project in America, this one required absolute perfection in design and build.Throughout the structure, stud welded anchor plates set in concrete blocks provide the flexibility and strength needed to maintain stability even in highly tensile applications. Stud welds are used throughout its construction, from its connections to underground transportation systems to the 73 elevator systems that carry passengers to the observation deck at 1,268 feet, and at every stage of the build in between.