Stirtec GmbH is a leading high-tech company in the field of Friction Stir Welding (FSW), located in Premstätten, Styria (Austria). Stirtec was initially established in 2010 as a spin-off of Graz University of Technology in the Science Park Graz to exploit the commercial potential of the Friction Stir Welding technology for industrial applications. Based on more than 10 years of scientific research resulting in five patents, and together with the successful implementation of various industrial projects in close customer cooperation, Stirtec is now a leading solution provider in the field of FSW.
As a pioneer for joining so far nonweldable metals (dissimilar materials, such as steel and copper and high strength steels), the company is offering machines, software and tools for demanding applications to European and US customers. Stirtec has established an initial client base of satisfied reference customers in both the transportation and industrial sectors, securing high trust in the company. Stirtec wants to be the clear market leader in Europe for friction stir welding for industrial applications, serving globally active customers.
Stirtec GmbH is a leading high-tech company in the field of Friction Stir Welding (FSW), located in Premstätten, Styria (Austria). Stirtec was initially established in 2010 as a spin-off of Graz University of Technology in the Science Park Graz to exploit the commercial potential of the Friction Stir Welding technology for industrial applications. Based on more than 10 years of scientific research resulting in five patents, and together with the successful implementation of various industrial projects in close customer cooperation, Stirtec is now a leading solution provider in the field of FSW.
As a pioneer for joining so far nonweldable metals (dissimilar materials, such as steel and copper and high strength steels), the company is offering machines, software and tools for demanding applications to European and US customers. Stirtec has established an initial client base of satisfied reference customers in both the transportation and industrial sectors, securing high trust in the company. Stirtec wants to be the clear market leader in Europe for friction stir welding for industrial applications, serving globally active customers.
Time is money – enhanced machinability steels helps saving 13.10.2022
Engine pistons – the heart of today‘s internal combustion enginges (ICE) – are subjected to demanding operating conditions. especially in terms of temperature as well as pressure. Thus especially for heavy duty diesel engines this leads in some cases to the preference of steel over aluminum.
Required steel material properties for pistons to withstand such operating conditions typically are tedious and therefore costly to machine during piston manufacturing. With this in mind, three different steel grades have been selected in order to improve machinability and reduce costs: 42CrMo4 as a reference, 42CrMo4R with high sulphur content, and 42CrMo4MB with bismuth addition. However, to unleash the full cost saving potential of these steels for monoblock pistons require new joining technologies. Stir4Steel will work.

Chemical composition of selected enhaced-machinability steels for case III