Lincoln Electric dubs itself as the “welding experts.”

The company, which is based in Cleveland, Ohio, is always on the cutting edge of technology.

Its latest innovative product is the VRTEX 360, a Virtual Reality Arc Welding training solution. The vrtex360.com website states the VRTEX 360 offers the combination of realistic puddle simulation and arc welding sound tied to the welder’s movement to provide a realistic hands-on training experience.

Lincoln Electric dubs itself as the “welding experts.”

The company, which is based in Cleveland, Ohio, is always on the cutting edge of technology.

Its latest innovative product is the VRTEX 360, a Virtual Reality Arc Welding training solution. The vrtex360.com website states the VRTEX 360 offers the combination of realistic puddle simulation and arc welding sound tied to the welder’s movement to provide a realistic hands-on training experience.

“We began selling it (the VRTEX 360) in March,” said Brian Soder, a motorsports marketing specialist for Lincoln Electric. “In the past, we’ve had live welding and cutting demonstrations that we have performed at NHRA events. We try coming out with the latest and greatest products every year to demonstrate. This (the VRTEX 360) is fan-friendly for spectators that are out there. Before, you could have an 8-year-old boy to a 70-year-old guy trying to weld, but it is kind of hard to take the time and show them the proper techniques and everything. Also with live welding, you have to have the proper dress code from a safety standpoint because of the live cutting. You have to have a welding coat on, shoes, pants, and a helmet and everything. With this (the VRTEX 360), you do not have to meet that criteria.”

Other benefits of the VRTEX 360 include training welders faster, lowering training cost, recruiting future welders, integrating high tech welding tools, improving the image of welding and turning your welding program green.

“It really is a virtual world, once you put this welding mask on,” Soder said. “There is actually no welding, when you have the welding parts in your hand on the piece, but you can look at it through the helmet and see exactly what your weld would have looked like. You can also go to different welding environments. One is desert-based, one is up at a construction site, and there are different settings in the virtual world. The next set of things would be what other types of environments can we put people in. Maybe one would be inside a NASCAR’s teams shop or something like that.”  

This is the first year the VRTEX 360 is been on display at NHRA events. The VRTEX 360 made its debut at the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, NC, March 11-14. Lincoln Electric has a mobile marketing unit/trailer that will go to all 23 NHRA national events this season. And, the Lincoln Electric mobile marketing unit just goes strictly to NHRA events. The VRTEX 360 also is free to try at the NHRA events.

“The response from fans has been fantastic,” Soder said. “There are times when there are 30 people crowded around it (the VRTEX 360), waiting to get their hands on it to try it out. Vegas will be another good event for us. The county fire code there says there’s not to be any kind of fire, sparks or anything like that, so we’ve had to shut down our display in the past (in Vegas) because we were doing live welding. This year, we will not have to shut down our display. This eliminates (the VRTEX 360) any of those risks.”

The 11th annual summitracing.com NHRA Nationals at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Soder also said the VRTEX 360 isn’t necessarily targeted to sell to NHRA event race fans.

“Generally, the VRTEX 360 would not be for sale to people at the track,” Soder said. “It is more geared towards U.S. military, unions, training centers, high schools, and community colleges. That is really who the VRTEX 360 is aimed to sell to. If you want to buy this piece of machine, Lincoln Electric
can definitely sell it to you.”

The easiest way for someone  to purchase the VRTEX 360 would be to visit the lincolnelectric.com web site.

“If someone goes to that web site, they would be able to locate someone who would have the information on how to purchase a VRTEX 360,” Soder said.