"Everything starts with good tools."

Good welders are becoming rare in the industry, while welding is becoming increasingly complex in nature. It is therefore crucial to keep innovating to push the boundaries of what is weldable and support welders in the best possible way. A mission that Lastek takes to heart. The company continues to look ahead to help welders deliver quality.

Lastek was born in '57 from a gap the founders noticed in the market: too little focus on specialized products and the knowledge that goes with them. A reason that still holds true more than fifty years later. Exchanging knowledge and experience is how Lastek continues to make a difference today. Technical director Luc Driesen: "Welding is a special field that revolves around making reliable connections. A task that is only getting more complex because of the new materials and alloys that are being added. With our own Belgian products we want to give them the tools to do this as efficiently as possible. On the other hand, by sharing our knowledge with them, we try to make the bridge between theory and practice as narrow as possible. That has always been our strength. And that is only possible by continuing to innovate." A formula for success that makes welding with Lastek on every continent today.

Helping welders deliver quality

R&D therefore plays an important role. In the past, for example, Lastek has already pioneered a technique to make non-weldable cast iron weldable. It is also cooperating with KULeuven for the welding technology part in a research project on 3D printing. In short, the company from Herentals wants to keep thinking about what the welding of the future will look like. Quality is and will remain the signpost in this regard. "Good welders are real craftsmen and know like no other that everything starts with good tools. Reliable equipment where you can fall back on good service. So they do not have to worry about failure, quality, smooth work ... ", summarizes Driesen. This is done from a contemporary vision. Developing parts yourself in which it is expert and having parts developed where this can produce better products. "Lastek has traditionally been strong in consumables, but in the meantime has also built a solid reputation with its welding equipment. All specifications, programs, alloys ... in short, everything that our equipment and materials offer added value to welders is carefully figured out from Herentals. After all, this is how we guarantee the quality of our solutions in the long term," says Driesen.

Training to exchange knowledge

A good weld starts with good material but also requires the necessary support. Lastek therefore has its own Training Center. Welders can always go there for specialized training. "We always try to keep the gap between theory and practice as narrow as possible. Do companies bump into certain problems or challenges? Then our two welding instructors go to work to show how that can be solved very concretely. We resolutely opt for personal training or training in very small groups, so that the exchange of knowledge can be very hands-on. They are instructors to be proud of, by the way. Two young guys who show that welding is still a wonderful profession. Lastek is and remains a company of people for people. We are all bitten by the welding bug here, young and old. It is hard not to feel a connection with these products, because they will never let you down," Driesen concludes.

More efficient repair of molds

Lastek's pioneering spirit is still very much alive and makes the company constantly look ahead. Driesen: "Soon we will launch our latest development. A device based on EDM technology (electronical discharge machining) with which we will succeed in taking a big bite out of the time and costs currently involved in the maintenance and repair of the sensitive and critical steels used in the production of molds. Today, an enormous amount of time goes into the pre- and post-treatment of these pieces. With our new device, we manage to reduce this to a tenth of the time. A sustainable solution too, because it will require less material. In February we will organize a demo day in our Expert Center to present this to the general public."