What did it take to develop the first inverter power source?

Creating a new product for industrial users is both a long journey and exciting adventure. In his LinkedIn Pulse post, Kemppi's User Experience Manager Jussi Kapanen recalls the beginning of an ambitious R&D project, when the team was tasked with the target of creating the best MIG welding system in the world, to be loved by users in 2017.

Innovation

In the 1960s, there was a huge shortage of professional welders in Finnish growth centers. That is why Keijo Olkoniemi, whose career as a welder has lasted for almost 50 years, trained to become a welder, a profession which has offered him challenges throughout his career. ”I remember when they said at the dockyard in Hietaniemi, Helsinki that you can bring a train full of skillful employees, and we will hire them all,” Olkoniemi says, laughing.

People

All innovations start with a dream. Whether it is the dream of a welder or an engineer, technology will always need visionaries who are able to see beyond the ordinary. The welding industry’s orientation is firmly forward, and a lot has happened even in the past few decades.

Innovation

Welding safety has become increasingly demanding. The hazards at the arc remain constant, but modern working conditions mean exposure can accumulate over longer shifts and in tighter indoor spaces. As a result, welding PPE needs to be treated as both protection for the welder and proof of compliance. At Kemppi, welding safety PPE is designed and validated in practice through clear requirements, welder-led feedback, and verified compliance with EU PPE Regulation 2016/425, CE marking processes, and relevant EN standards.

Safety, Welding ABC

Eurosatory 2026 highlighted a clear shift in modern defence manufacturing. While defence systems are becoming more digital, networked, and autonomous, their foundation remains physical. From armoured vehicles and artillery to industrial resilience, welding quality, steel structures, and production discipline remain paramount to defence readiness.

Digitalization, Innovation

The AITOOLS1 webinar explored how AI-assisted process control, machine vision, synchronized data, and machine learning models are advancing robotic welding automation, improving quality management, traceability, and production flexibility for demanding industrial production.

Welding automation, Innovation, Digitalization