TROY, Ohio. March 24, 2009-To improve productivity on demanding heavy equipment, barge or tank fabrication and for field repairs, Hobart Brothers offers its Fabshield XLR-8™ self-shielded flux-cored wire. Fabshield XLR-8 wire also excels in structural steel erection, construction and ship fabrication applications. The wire offers high deposition rates and good impact strengths, along with the most reliable out-of-position welding capabilities (at both high and low heat inputs) of any T-8 self-shielded flux-cored wire in its class.

Hobart Brothers formulated XLR-8 wire with low diffusible hydrogen levels—less than 6.7ml per 100g of weld deposit—to ensure it provides X-Ray quality welds with greater crack resistance than competitive wires. Also, unlike competitive wires, XLR-8 wire offers a large voltage window and is particularly well suited for vertical-up welds at high current levels, improving operator appeal and increasing productivity. The wire has the D designator under AWS A5.20:2005, making it usable for strict AWS D1.8 Demand Critical welds, and it can further improve productivity by replacing AWS 7018 stick electrodes in certain applications.

The XLR-8 wire eliminates slag entrapment associated with older generations of T-8 wire and offers high-impact strength at low temperatures to resist cracking and minimize rework that slows production. The wire also offers a stable arc and a flat bead profile.

XLR-8 wire ships in moisture-proof, vacuumed-sealed packaging of various sizes, making it reliable for extended storage. It is available in 1/16-, .072- and 5/64-inch diameters.

Hobart Brothers is dedicated to the highest level of Performance Welding™. For product specification sheets or to learn more about Hobart Brothers products, visit hobartbrothers.com, email hobart@hobartbrothers.com, call 1-800-424-1543, fax 1-800-541-6607, or write Hobart Brothers Company, 101 Trade Square East, Troy, OH 45373.

Hobart Brothers Company of Troy, Ohio, is a leading manufacturer of welding filler metals marketed under the brand names Hobart, Tri-Mark, McKay and Corex. Hobart Brothers Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works, Inc. based in Glenview, Ill. ITW is a multinational manufacturer of a diversified range of value-adding and short-lead-time industrial products and equipment.