How Safe is New Zealand’s CO2 Shielding Gas Supply?
The shortage of CO2 in New Zealand and globally in recent years resulted from disparities between supply and demand. The situation was worsened by maintenance shutdowns, contaminants in raw gas, gas price spikes and supply chain disruptions. Further, the closure of Marsden Point Refinery has left New Zealand largely dependent on the supply of CO2 from overseas and more vulnerable to disruptors such as geopolitical volatility. Switching to a dual gas welding wire helps protect against future CO2 shortages. Read on to discover how…
The Importance of CO2 to New Zealand Industry
CO2 is a critically required product in several industries other than welding – food and healthcare sectors, for example – for which there is growing global demand. However, CO2 also poses a major threat to the environment and the growing restrictions on the production and application of harmful industrial gases are a major challenge for the market.
These factors all point to the likelihood of CO2 gas shortages again in the future.
Historically, CO2 shielding gas was the cheapest option for fabricators, however pricing soared during the shortage in 2022-23 and some fabricators changed to using Argon/CO2 mix shielding gas. For some fabricators, using 100% CO2 remains a cost-effective option for steel welding applications, while the expenses associated with transitioning to alternatives—including new Welding Procedure Specifications (WPSs) and potential workshop reconfiguration—may present significant barriers to implementing change.
Time is the crucial consideration. You have time now to plan for and implement any changes, time to source and ensure reliable supply of new welding consumables. It’s time to consider our new dual shield wire; WE-71T…
“Fortune Favours the Prepared Mind”
Time is the crucial consideration. You have time now to plan for and implement any workshop adjustments necessitated by a change in welding wire, and to source and ensure reliable supply of new welding consumables.
Compounding a shortage of shielding gas, when suddenly everybody wants a dual gas wire, the industry is faced with a shortage of suitable wires. As one of New Zealand welding’s largest welding wire stockists, we need to plan ahead, too. Like all suppliers, we peer into our finely-tuned crystal ball to calculate the demand for wire well in advance. However, a sudden rush to dual shield wire can put immense strain on supply for all local suppliers. Regular usage ahead of time means supplier forward planning is more accurate.
By acting now during a period of relative stability, you are preventing the panic, stress and added costs that will surely arise when the next CO2 shortage bites. “Fortune favours the prepared mind,” as the 19-century French scientist and inventor, Louis Pasteur, put it. In simple terms, it’s time to plan head! It’s time to consider our new dual shield wire; WE-71T…
Introducing WE-71T Dual Shield Wire
WE-71T is a premium quality wire with very similar performance and attributes as NSWE’s SF-1E. In fact, WE-71T is near-identical to SF-1E. The differences are in its chemical composition and strengths, and offers one very notable benefit: This is a dual gas welding wire, that can be used with either 100% CO2 or 80% Argon/20% CO2 shielding gas without sacrificing performance or weld quality. (SF-1E can be run on only CO2).
Local and global CO2 supply is vulnerable due to numerous and sometimes volatile market forces. Using dual gas welding wire to mitigate future CO2 shielding gas shortages is the smart choice in 2025. Reduce risk and gain flexibility by switching to WE-71T dual shield wire – available to order very soon!