Since our founding in 1936, Helander has been providing companies large and small across a range of industries with high-quality, reliable metal goods and metal forming services. Our commitment to quality and excellence in products, production, and services has been a cornerstone of our business and our success for more than 80 years. We apply it to everything we do, from turning and welding to hydroforming and polishing.

This quality guarantee is critical to our customers in the aerospace industry, particularly those seeking aerospace welding services.

Aerospace Welding

Aerospace Welding Services

Simply put, aerospace welding is any welding performed on a part or component meant for use in an aerospace application. Aerospace welding is distinct from standard welding in that specific standards and regulations must be adhered to, namely those put forth by Nadcap.

Nadcap, the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program, is a global industry-managed standardization, assessment, and accreditation initiative encompassing suppliers, contractors, service providers, and government representatives.

Nadcap certification requires strict adherence to AWS D17.1 and AS9100D standards. Set forth by the American Welding Society (AWS), AWS D17.1 outlines standards for welding processes, including material selection and methodology; AS9100D sets requirements for quality, quality management, and quality assurance.

Aerospace Welding at Helander

We offer a range of metal forming services at Helander, including a comprehensive selection of aerospace welding capabilities. Our team of aerospace welders is fully Nadcap certified, and Helander is on Nadcap’s list of approved vendors for aerospace welding.

Our aerospace welding offerings include:

  • MIG Welding — Metal Inert Gas (MIG), or Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), is a welding method in which an electric arc forms between a consumable wire electrode and the workpieces, melting the workpieces and allowing them to join together. In addition to the wire electrode, a shielding gas feeds through the welding gun, protecting the process from contaminants in the air.
  • TIG Welding — Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG), or Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), is a welding method that uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to generate an electric arc to heat the workpieces. A filler metal, used in most TIG applications, is added into the weld pool as needed to help join materials. The weld area is protected from contamination in the air by an inert shielding gas.
  • Soldering — Soldering is the process of using heat to melt a solder material that join workpieces, fusing them as it cools and solidifies. This process differs from welding in that it uses heat, as opposed to electric arcs, and does not melt the workpieces in any way. It is typically used in electronic and other more delicate applications.
  • Automated Seam Welding — Automated seam welding is the use of automated welding machines to perform MIG or TIG welds of high quality at a faster rate.

Helander Quality Guarantee

To ensure optimal safety, strength, and reliability, aerospace welding services must be held to strict quality standards.

Helander takes several steps to ensure our Nadcap and AS9100D certifications and provide industry-leading quality in all of our services, from the ground up. We source materials from Nadcap-certified suppliers only, utilize the highest-quality welding equipment, and regularly train and evaluate our welding team.

We also perform stringent quality inspections on all of our aerospace welds — class A, B, and C welds alike — and facilitate the full-time on-site presence of a Honeywell Source Certifying Agent for welding. We’re proud of our company-wide quality management program and guarantee only the best for our clients.

To learn more about Helander and the high-quality aerospace welding services we offer, contact us today.